Foreign tourists via cruise ships eligible for immediate internal tax refunds starting next week | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Foreign tourists visiting South Korea on cruise ships will be able to receive a refund of internal taxes on goods purchased at local duty-free stores starting next week, the customs agency said Friday. Cruise tourists can either receive immediate refunds at the point of sale at some 23,000 duty-free stores across the country, or at downtown service centers, starting next Monday, the Korea Customs Service said. South Korea allows foreign tourists to receive refunds on the value-added tax and individual consumption tax in the price of goods purchased at local retail stores. Korea N.K. leader inspects service facilities at new housing area prev Foreign tourists via cruise ships eligible for immediate internal tax refunds starting next week Next Foreign tourists via cruise ships eligible for immediate internal tax refunds starting next week

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Foreign tourists visiting South Korea on cruise ships will be able to receive a refund of internal taxes on goods purchased at local duty-free stores starting next week, the customs agency said Friday.
Cruise tourists can either receive immediate refunds at the point of sale at some 23,000 duty-free stores across the country, or at downtown service centers, starting next Monday, the Korea Customs Service said.
South Korea allows foreign tourists to receive refunds on the value-added tax and individual consumption tax in the price of goods purchased at local retail stores.
But tourists visiting South Korea through cruise ships are known to have experienced difficulty accessing such benefits due to their relatively short travel duration, according to officials.
Around 810,000 tourists visited South Korea via cruise ships in 2024, according to the data from the oceans ministry.
A cruise ship is anchored at a port in Busan, some 420 kilometers south of Seoul, in this file photo taken March 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
fairydust@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
Cruise ship brings 2,700 Chinese tourists to Incheon as S. Korea begins visa-free entry
Tourism, retail sectors gear up for expected influx of Chinese group tourists
Keywords
#cruise tourism
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel
Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me'
(LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang'
Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold
(URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim'
Most Saved
Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel
Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me'
Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold
(LEAD) S. Korea co-sponsors U.N. resolution on N.K. human rights
(LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.
Most Viewed
All Categories
(LEAD) Trump says U.S. will hit Iran 'extremely hard' over next 2 to 3 weeks
(LEAD) Lee, Macron hold summit to discuss bilateral cooperation
(LEAD) Lee hosts dinner for France's Macron ahead of summit
(LEAD) Lee reaffirms commitment to regain wartime command in meeting with U.S. lawmakers
BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
New school year begins in N. Korea
New school year begins in N. Korea
New school year begins in N. Korea
N.K. leader inspects service facilities at new housing area
prev
Foreign tourists via cruise ships eligible for immediate internal tax refunds starting next week
Next
Foreign tourists via cruise ships eligible for immediate internal tax refunds starting next week

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Korea begins visa-free entry Tourism, retail sectors gear up for expected influx of Chinese group tourists Keywords #cruise tourism Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (LEAD) S.

### Implications
- OK SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Foreign tourists visiting South Korea on cruise ships will be able to receive a refund of internal taxes on goods purchased at local duty-free stores starting next week, the customs agency said Friday.
- Korea begins visa-free entry Tourism, retail sectors gear up for expected influx of Chinese group tourists Keywords #cruise tourism Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (LEAD) S.
- Korea co-sponsors U.N. resolution on N.K. human rights (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.
- Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Trump says U.S. will hit Iran 'extremely hard' over next 2 to 3 weeks (LEAD) Lee, Macron hold summit to discuss bilateral cooperation (LEAD) Lee hosts dinner for France's Macron ahead of summit (LEAD) Lee reaffirms commitment to regain wartime command in meeting with U.S. lawmakers BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos New school year begins in N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, tourists, cruise topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 465.