Many people travel to Korea for beauty & medical treatments to take advantage of the 6–8% tax refund. For example, on a full treatment package costing around ₩2,000,000, you could receive roughly ₩140,000 back in tax refunds. Combined with Korea’s already competitive pricing, that refund often becomes extra money to use on other activities when you travel.
Unfortunately, the beauty & medical procedure tax refund will officially end on December 31, 2025.
Does that mean Korean beauty & medical procedures are no longer worth it? Not at all. Creatrip works with a wide selection of highly rated clinics to offer an exclusive 10% cashback. Even after the government tax refund ends, you can still receive 10% back through Creatrip Beauty Cashback Event! (e.x. spend ₩1,000,000 and get ₩100,000 back!)
Click below to learn more!
Korea Beauty & Medical Procedures Tax Refund Cancellation
Korea’s medical aesthetic tax refund system was first introduced in April 2016 as part of a government initiative to promote medical tourism and encourage visitors to receive aesthetic treatments in Korea. After more than nine years, the policy will officially come to an end on January 1, 2026.
That said, travelers don’t need to worry too much. The change only affects medical aesthetic services such as plastic surgery, dermatology, and cosmetic dental treatments. Tax refund policies for general retail shopping, department stores, and duty-free shops remain unchanged. Purchases of ₩15,000 or more are still eligible for tax refunds with a passport, while duty-free shops continue to offer tax-free pricing upfront.
So what does the end of the tax refund system actually mean for travelers visiting Korea? Here’s a quick breakdown:
In Korea, most goods and services are subject to a 10% value-added tax (VAT). Short-term visitors traveling for tourism have been able to receive a 6–8% tax refund by presenting their passport, depending on the total amount spent.
Until the end of December 2025, medical aesthetic prices in Korea are typically shown as base price + 10% VAT, with 6–8% of that tax refunded afterward based on the total payment amount.
Starting January 1, 2026, the pricing structure will remain the same — base price plus 10% VAT — but the post-treatment tax refund of 6–8% will no longer be available.
Is There an Alternative Way to Save?
Some of you might be wondering: If the medical aesthetic tax refund is ending, is there still any way around it? The answer is yes!
First, if you already have a clinic you regularly visit, it may be worth contacting them before December 31, 2025 to ask whether they offer a large prepayment option. This means depositing a larger amount in advance, receiving the tax refund while the policy is still in place, and then using that balance for future treatments.
However, once the tax refund officially ends on January 1, 2026, this option will no longer be available. So, is there another solution?
Second, this is not something I personally recommend, but the option would be paying in cash.
Depending on how each clinic or hospital handles its internal accounting, there is a chance that paying in cash may come with a small discount. It’s similar to how some shops in underground shopping areas offer a lower price for cash payments.
That said, this approach can involve tax-related issues, and in some cases, you may not receive an official receipt or invoice. This could lead to problems later if any disputes arise.
Creatrip 10% Beauty Cashback
If you don’t want to prepay a large amount at a clinic, or feel uneasy about paying cash without getting an official receipt, then this option is perfect for you. Creatrip has partnered with numerous clinics in Seoul, Busan, and beyond to offer 10% Beauty Cashback.
From December 15, 2025, to June 30, 2026, simply book a participating clinic through Creatrip, pay on-site and collect your receipt, then submit it along with a review on the Creatrip website. Creatrip will then give you 10% of your payment back as points!
Join the Creatrip 10% Beauty Cashback Event now!
For example, if you book a beauty treatment through Creatrip and spend ₩4,000,000 (4000000) on-site, Creatrip will give you 10% back — ₩400,000 (≈ 400000) as points.
Once you receive your points, you can either use it as cash to book your next treatment or spend it on other Creatrip services, such as one-day tours, hanbok rentals, photo studios, airport transfers, restaurant reservations, or one-day classes.
How to Join
- Make a reservation on Creatrip with participating skin clinics.
- Visit the clinic and complete your treatment.
- Make a payment on-site and get a receipt.
- Upload your receipt on Creatrip & write a review about your experience.
- Get the 10% of the total payment amount back as Creatrip points.
- Use your points like cash to book other travel experiences (beauty & medical, photoshoots, tours & more!)
Things to Keep In Mind
* This promotion is valid only for bookings made on Creatrip between December 15, 2025, and June 30, 2026. To be eligible, the booking must be with a clinic listed on the promotion page or show the Earn 10% Back label on the reservation page (see example below).
- The latest date to complete the treatment is June 30, 2026. This means the actual treatment or visit must take place on or before June 30, 2026. Even if you make a reservation before that date, treatments scheduled after July 1, 2026 are not eligible. Please ensure both your reservation and treatment are completed by June 30, 2026.
- Reservations and treatments made before December 15, 2025 are not eligible for the 10% beauty cashback, even if booked at participating Creatrip clinics, as they fall outside the promotion period.
- Receipts submitted must include: clinic name, payment date, and payment amount (in KRW). All three pieces of information are required. Additionally, the payment date must match the actual treatment date to be accepted.
- The promotion runs until June 30, 2026. The actual period may end earlier or be extended depending on operational circumstances.
- If a reservation is canceled through Creatrip, the treatment is not completed, or payment is not made on-site, it will be considered not an actual experience, and Creatrip reserves the right not to issue point cashback or to reclaim any point cashback obtained improperly.
- Even if you book a participating clinic through Creatrip, cashback cannot be granted if you submit a review and upload your receipt more than 30 days after completing the treatment, as this exceeds the submission period.
- Receipts that have been uploaded cannot be modified or deleted. If you upload the wrong file or need adjustments, please contact customer service for assistance.
- Cashback issuance will depend on the review and verification process and may be issued earlier or later than expected.
- If it is determined that receipts or cashback were obtained through AI manipulation, forgery, or not personally experienced, Creatrip reserves the right to restrict the member’s access to related services.
- Creatrip reserves the right to adjust or remove promotion policies at any time based on operational needs without prior notice. Please refer to the rules posted at the time of the promotion.
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