Short answer: if you're getting Botox, filler, or laser in 2026, you now pay full price. In 2025, you could claim back around 7–9% of that cost at the airport. That refund is gone. Your final bill is now 10% higher than the old, after-refund price you may have seen quoted online.
If you're coming for a health checkup, none of this applies to you. Health checkups were never taxed this way, and nothing about your bill has changed. Below, you'll find a fast 2025-vs-2026 breakdown, plus a checklist to protect your budget either way.
Losing a 10% refund sounds like a real hit. But most patients still come out ahead. Here's why:
Short answer: if you're getting Botox, filler, or laser in 2026, you now pay full price. In 2025, you could claim back around 7–9% of that cost at the airport. That refund is gone. Your final bill is now 10% higher than the old, after-refund price you may have seen quoted online.
If you're coming for a health checkup, none of this applies to you. Health checkups were never taxed this way, and nothing about your bill has changed. Below, you'll find a fast 2025-vs-2026 breakdown, plus a checklist to protect your budget either way.
Simply put, foreign patients used to get part of their cosmetic bill back at the airport. That system just ended. Here's the direct comparison:
| In 2025 | In 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic surgery / dermatology | Paid full price, then claimed back ~7–9% at Incheon | Pay full price, full stop — no refund step |
| Refund paperwork | Passport shown at clinic, refund slip filed at airport | Not available — no slip to file, no line to wait in |
| Your final cost | Price minus refund | Price as quoted, no discount |
| Health checkup | Already tax-free, no refund needed | Still tax-free, nothing changed |
Bottom line: cosmetic and skin treatments cost about 10% more out-of-pocket than the "after-refund" price many blogs still quote. Health checkups cost exactly the same as before.
The table above covers cosmetic vs. health checkups. Here's every category, including shopping, in one place.
| Service Type | VAT Charged? | Foreign Refund Available? |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic surgery (e.g., rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery) | Yes, 10% | No — ended January 1, 2026 |
| Dermatology & skin treatments (e.g., laser, Botox, filler) | Yes, 10% | No — ended January 1, 2026 |
| General health checkups (screening packages) | Exempt — medical and health services are VAT-exempt in Korea | Not applicable, always exempt |
| Illness treatment (e.g., surgery for a medical condition) | Exempt, as a basic medical service | Not applicable, always exempt |
| Retail shopping (skincare, cosmetics, souvenirs) | Yes, 10% | Yes, unchanged — separate program |
Bold takeaway: if your trip is a health checkup, this tax change does not raise your bill at all.
Here's the one rule that explains everything on this page:
That single split is why your health checkup bill hasn't moved a cent.
The old refund let you double-check your bill was fair. That check is gone now. Always get your full, VAT-included price in writing before you pay.
Ask every clinic one question: "Is this price VAT-inclusive?" A fast, clear answer signals a transparent clinic. Hesitation is your cue to compare elsewhere.
Simple way to check it yourself: compare a Gangnam clinic's full, VAT-included quote against a home-country quote for the same procedure. The gap usually stays large.
A. Yes. The 10% VAT refund ended January 1, 2026. The tax itself was always charged; only the refund is gone.
A. No. Health checkups stay VAT-exempt for everyone. They were never part of the ended refund program.
A. Possibly, if your documents were issued in 2025 and you depart Korea within three months of payment.
A. No. Retail shopping refunds, like skincare purchases, are separate and stay unchanged.
A. It gives you a case-specific price check before you book. Start at [/contact].
