2016 New Year sales attract visitors to Lotte Department Store in Sogong-dong Seoul. (Image : Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Korea Bizwire) - South Korean department stores will start offering instant tax refund services to foreign customers starting in February as part of an effort to boost sales, market watchers said Sunday.
Under the new program, foreigners can buy products without paying the mandatory 10 percent value-added tax (VAT) if the item costs 30,000-200,000 won (US$25-166), observers said. Each person can be exempt from VAT for up to the first 1 million won in purchases. Products that cost more than 200,000 won require the buyer to pay the VAT and get a refund later on.
Seoul announced last year that it would implement changes to the way all local tax-free shops operate in 2016 by making it easier for tourists to spend in the country without the need to hold onto purchase receipts that must be shown at departure to get tax refunds.’
Lotte Department Store, South Korea’s No. 1 luxury retailer, said the instant tax refund will be given at its main Sogong-dong flagship store in downtown Seoul. Shinsegae Department Store said its main store in Jung-gu will offer the service to customers, while Hyundai Department Store plans to give immediate tax refunds at its main Apgujeong store and its COEX outlet in southern Seoul.
Department stores said they picked the stores because they are the most frequented by foreign visitors, with more stores to be added later.
“Foreign shoppers can buy products minus the 10 percent VAT so there is no need to keep tabs on receipts or show the product they purchased at the airport when they leave the country,” a Lotte official said. “This can greatly reduce the hassle at airports and should fuel sales at our store.”
In addition, local department stores said they will kick off promotion sales to attract Chinese tourists who are expected to arrive in large numbers during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. The traditional holiday runs from Feb. 3 through Feb. 13 this year.
Lotte said it will give 50,000 won discounts for purchases exceeding 1 million won, with gift cards equal to 5 percent of the purchase of the total to be given if the total tops 10 million won. Shinsegae said it too will give upwards of 30 percent discounts and gifts to foreign tourists that buy items at its stores in February. The retailers said that to get the benefits the shopper needs to show his or her passport when making the purchase.
(Yonhap)
