VAT, KRW, AND WHAT YOU ACTUALLY PAY: THE FOREIGNER PRICING GUIDE

The price on the menu isn't always the price you pay. Here's the full picture: VAT, currency, payment methods, foreign-tourist tax refund rules, and the four ways visitors get surprised at the checkout desk.

VAT, 10% ADDED ON MOST PROCEDURES

Korean aesthetic procedures are subject to 10% VAT. Some clinics include it in the listed price ("VAT 포함"); many don't ("VAT 별도" / "VAT 10% Separate"). A ₩390K Ultherapy listing can become ₩429K. Always confirm before booking, the difference can be ~$30 USD per session.

FOREIGN TOURIST VAT REFUND, LIMITED

Korea offers tourist VAT refunds at duty-free shops, department stores, and qualifying retailers, but aesthetic medical procedures are generally NOT VAT-refundable. Don't plan on recovering the 10% at the airport. If a clinic claims they can process a refund, verify the details before booking; some smaller clinics misunderstand the eligibility rules.

CURRENCY AT THE DESK

Most clinics accept three payment methods: Korean credit card (foreign Visa/Mastercard work fine), KRW cash, and increasingly, KakaoPay or Toss for Korean residents. USD cash is sometimes accepted but at a poor exchange rate, don't bring USD planning to pay in dollars.

CARD PROCESSING, DCC TRAP

When you pay by foreign card in Korea, the terminal will often ask "USD or KRW?" Choose KRW. Selecting USD invokes Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), which adds 3–6% to the exchange rate compared to your bank's native conversion. The clinic's checkout staff may default to USD without asking; tell them KRW upfront.

“When the card terminal asks "USD or KRW?", always choose KRW. DCC adds 3–6% in hidden fees.”

PACKAGE DISCOUNT FINE PRINT

Multi-session packages quoted at "10% off" usually mean 10% off the total when paid upfront. Some clinics offer the discount only when you commit to all sessions on day one. If you want to pay session by session (recommended for first-time visits), confirm whether the per-session price is the same as the package per-session, sometimes it's 5–10% higher.

FOREIGNER PRICING, DOES IT EXIST?

A common foreign-visitor concern: do clinics charge tourists more? Generally no, in 2026, Korean clinics increasingly use single transparent menus shared across local and foreign patients, especially at the international-facing tier. Where foreigner premiums creep in: clinics that add "translator fees" without disclosing them upfront, "consultation fees" that don't exist for Korean patients, or quotes that drop magically when you mention you're comparing with another clinic.

HOW TO VERIFY THE FINAL NUMBER BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN

• 01Ask for the quote in writing (KakaoTalk message or email), verbal quotes can drift.
• 02Confirm VAT inclusion on the written quote.
• 03Confirm the exact brand tier and shot count or unit count.
• 04Confirm any package discount conditions (upfront payment vs session-by-session).
• 05Ask whether there are any add-on fees (translator, consultation, post-care kit) not on the menu.