What Are Prices at Korean Beauty Clinics Like After the End of Tax Refunds?

🌸 How Korean Aesthetic Medicine Has Changed Now That Tax Refunds Have Ended

In 2026, South Korea's value-added tax refund program for foreign visitors at aesthetic clinics ended.

“Has Korea become too expensive now?” “Or is it still worth traveling to Korea?” Many of you may be wondering the same thing.

This article organizes what has actually changed due to the system revision and how to determine whether to undergo treatment in Korea or Japan.

📋 What changed with the end of tax refunds?

Until now, foreign travelers had been able to receive a refund of the value-added tax (VAT) paid during their stay in Korea.

According to guidance materials from the Korea Tourism Organization, the refund rate was said to be approximately 10% at most.

With the end of this system, the listed price became the actual amount payable.

Those who calculated the effective price based on the expected refund may feel that the price increase is especially significant.

💡Does “Korea is cheaper” still hold true?

In conclusion, it depends on the circumstances.

The assumption that “Korea will be cheaper anyway” can no longer be applied so simply.

It is important to compare the total cost—including travel expenses, accommodation, meals during your stay, and the cost of returning to Korea if any problems arise—with an estimate from a Japanese clinic.

On the other hand, depending on the type of procedure, there are still cases where Korea offers an advantage.

For example, procedures involving devices with limited availability in Japan, or treatments backed by an overwhelmingly large number of cases. If you approach it as “going to buy experience, not just a lower price,” there will continue to be reasons to choose treatment in Korea.

🔍 Whether to Travel to Korea or Undergo the Procedure in Japan: 3 Criteria

① Whether You Can Receive a Procedure of the Same Standard in Japan

If Japan also offers comparable procedures, equipment, and doctors with a sufficient number of cases, the benefits of traveling abroad become less significant.

The first step is to check whether you have options in Japan.

② Where to Receive Aftercare

For procedures that require managing swelling or monitoring the recovery process, receiving treatment domestically may ultimately provide greater peace of mind and help keep costs down.

We recommend confirming before traveling to Korea how you plan to receive follow-up care after returning home.

③ Whether There Is Value in “Having the Procedure Done in Korea” Itself

Whether there is something you may have difficulty obtaining in Japan, such as the procedure itself, the doctor’s expertise, or a track record of cases.

This is something that cannot be measured numerically, but it is a perspective to include in your overall decision.

📌 Things to Prepare and Confirm Before Traveling to Korea

✨ Summary: Checklist for Making Decisions After the End of the Tax-Free Program

□ Compare the total cost, including travel and accommodation expenses, with an estimate in Japan

□ First check whether treatments and equipment of the same standard are available in Japan

□ For treatments requiring aftercare, confirm in advance how you can receive care after returning home

□ Check the clinic’s track record and the doctor in charge’s experience before the consultation

□ Ask in advance about the support system in case of problems (guarantees and repeat treatments)

□ Avoid returning home on the day of treatment and plan your schedule with plenty of time

□ Check the clinic’s business days during Korean holidays before traveling to Korea

The end of the tax-free program does not mean the end of Korean aesthetic medicine.

We are moving from an era of choosing based solely on price to one of choosing based on “what you want to gain.” I feel that this shift in perspective will make beauty treatments in Korea more satisfying in the future.

We have brought you reliable Korean information that makes Korea feel closer and more reassuring through 『イェプリコ』.