Foreign shoppers time trips for Olive Young sales as K-beauty draws repeat visitors
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Olive Young, South Korea’s largest cosmetics retail chain, has become a must-visit spot for foreign tourists, with many travelers planning repeat trips to coincide with its seasonal “Ollyeong Sale” (Olive Young sale). Data from CJ Olive Young and Global Tax Free show foreign purchases during the March and June sale periods rose elevenfold compared with three years ago. The retailer runs four major sales a year (March, June, September, December), featuring over 1,500 beauty brands and discounts up to about 70% off list prices, attracting shoppers who want the latest K-beauty trends. Repeat visitors—tourists who return to Korea two or more times a year timed to sales—have doubled annually since 2023; about 6,200 foreigners visited Olive Young three or more times during sale periods last year. Non-capital region stores saw foreign sales jump 72% in June versus a year earlier, and Olive Young’s global online mall traffic rose 180% as overseas customers shopped remotely. Company officials say the sales have turned Olive Young into a K-beauty content destination and plan to keep expanding touchpoints between brands and domestic and international customers.
