Daiso Myeongdong Tax Refund｜Minimum Spend & Passport Guide

1. Does Daiso Myeongdong offer tax refunds?

Yes. Both Daiso Myeongdong Main Branch and Daiso Myeongdong Station Branch are officially listed as tax-refund shops.

The Korea Tourism Organization lists Daiso Myeongdong Main Branch at 43 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul as a Tax Refund Shop. Its listed operating hours are 10:00 to 22:00.

Daiso Myeongdong Station Branch at 134-1 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul is also officially listed as a Tax Refund Shop, with operating hours of 10:00 to 22:00.

These are two different Daiso locations, so check the exact store name and address before visiting. This is particularly important when using Google Maps, Naver Map or Kakao Map in Myeongdong.

2. Which Myeongdong Daiso is the 12-floor store?

The well-known multi-floor Daiso near Myeongdong Station is Daiso Myeongdong Station Branch at 134-1 Toegye-ro.

This is the large Daiso location frequently searched by international visitors as the “12-floor Daiso in Myeongdong.” Korea Tourism Organization travel content identifies the Myeongdong Station Branch as a 12-story Mega Daiso.

The branch offers a wide selection of products including cosmetics, stationery, household goods, accessories, food, souvenirs and travel-friendly items.

It is separate from Daiso Myeongdong Main Branch on Myeongdong-gil. If the 12-floor store is your destination, confirm that your map is taking you to 134-1 Toegye-ro.

3. What is the minimum purchase for a Korea tax refund?

The current minimum qualifying purchase for Korea’s tourist tax-refund system is ₩15,000 per transaction.

This is especially useful at Daiso because many individual products cost only a few thousand won. If you plan to request a tax refund, combining eligible items into one qualifying transaction may be more practical than splitting your purchases into several small transactions.

Older travel guides may mention a ₩30,000 minimum. The current Korea Tourism Organization guidance states that a purchase of at least ₩15,000 per transaction can qualify for a tourist tax refund when the other eligibility requirements are met.

Meeting the minimum purchase amount does not automatically guarantee a refund. You must also be an eligible visitor, shop at a participating tax-refund store and satisfy the applicable rules for the purchased goods.

4. Do I need a passport for a Daiso tax refund?

Bring your passport when requesting a tourist tax refund because passport verification is used to confirm eligibility.

For Korea’s immediate tax-refund system, eligible travelers present their passport so their tax-refund eligibility can be verified before the tax is deducted from the payment.

For other refund methods, keep your tax-refund voucher or receipt and any documentation provided by the store. Depending on the refund procedure, you may need your passport and refund documents later at a refund counter, kiosk or departure point.

Do not assume that paying with a foreign credit card automatically completes the refund. The purchase must be processed through the applicable tourist tax-refund system.

5. Is the Daiso Myeongdong tax refund instant?

Do not assume every Daiso Myeongdong purchase will receive an automatic instant refund at checkout.

Korea has both immediate and post-purchase tax-refund systems. An immediate refund is available only at participating stores and transactions that meet the applicable requirements.

According to current Korea Tourism Organization guidance, an immediate tax refund can apply when a single qualifying payment is at least ₩15,000 but less than ₩1 million and the traveler’s total qualifying transaction amount during the trip does not exceed ₩5 million.

For an immediate refund, passport verification is required and the tax is deducted before payment. If your purchase is handled as a general post-purchase refund instead, you may receive a refund voucher and need to complete the refund through the applicable counter, kiosk or departure procedure.

Because official listings confirm the Myeongdong stores as tax-refund shops but do not guarantee that every purchase will be processed as an immediate refund, ask staff which method applies before paying.

6. What should I check before visiting Daiso Myeongdong?

Before visiting, confirm the exact Daiso branch, opening hours, tax-refund service and bring your passport.

Daiso Myeongdong Main Branch and Myeongdong Station Branch are different stores. The Main Branch is at 43 Myeongdong-gil, while the Station Branch is at 134-1 Toegye-ro.

Both stores are currently listed by the Korea Tourism Organization with operating hours of 10:00 to 22:00 and as Tax Refund Shops. Holiday schedules can differ, so check current store information if you are visiting around Seollal or Chuseok.

If you are buying products specifically for a tax refund, keep them unused until leaving Korea. Current tourist tax-refund rules require eligible purchased goods to be taken out of Korea within three months of the purchase date.

Daiso Myeongdong Tax Refund FAQ