Korea Grand Sale 2027: Dates, Duty-Free Discount Codes and Shopping Deals for Foreigners

The Korea Grand Sale 2027 is the country’s big winter shopping festival for foreign visitors: discounts and coupons from airlines, duty-free shops, department stores, beauty chains, hotels and transport, all aimed at tourists. If you’re visiting Korea between late December and February, it’s worth knowing how it works — and how to stack it with tax refunds and duty-free coupons. Here’s what we know so far, based on last year’s edition.

Last checked: 2 November 2026. The 2027 Korea Grand Sale hasn’t been officially launched yet (as of 2 November 2026). A Korea Tourism Organization event listing shows provisional dates, and the details below are based on the 2025–26 edition — we’ll update when the 2027 programme is announced. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

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What is the Korea Grand Sale?

The Korea Grand Sale is a government-backed shopping and tourism festival for foreigners, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Visit Korea Committee. It started in 2011 and now runs every winter. The 2026 edition (held from 17 December 2025 to 22 February 2026) was the biggest yet: it was extended from 45 to 68 days and involved about 1,750 companies, including airlines, hotels, retailers, and food and beauty brands. The official site is en.koreagrandsale.co.kr.

When is the Korea Grand Sale 2027?

The Korea Grand Sale 2027 is listed as running from 23 December 2026 to 13 February 2027 (53 days) in the Korea Tourism Organization’s public event data, which marks the dates as planned and subject to change. The listing says this year’s special theme is food, and that a welcome centre on the 1st floor of Noon Square in Myeongdong will hand out a festival coupon book, run events and help visitors, daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with mobile welcome centres touring regions such as Gangwon and Gyeongnam. Last year the government announced the sale officially in mid-December, so expect confirmation around then.

What discounts can foreigners get?

Korea shopping discounts for foreigners during the Grand Sale come from each participating company, so they vary. Last year’s main categories were:

Offers aren’t always automatic: you often need your passport, a specific coupon or a particular payment card. Keep your passport with you when shopping.

How do I get a duty-free discount code or coupon?

A duty-free discount code in Korea usually comes from the shop itself rather than a single festival code. The big operators — Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai — publish coupons for foreign customers on their websites and apps, at their information desks and through tour or airline partners, and add extra coupons during the Grand Sale. This autumn’s separate Korea Grand Festival (29 October – 15 November 2026), for example, included discounts of up to 25% on liquor and cosmetics at 25 duty-free shops. Be wary of third-party “code” sites that ask you to sign up or pay.

How does a Lotte Duty Free coupon work?

A Lotte Duty Free coupon is usually a spend-based discount (for example, a set amount off once you spend over a threshold) claimed by registering as a foreign member online or at the store’s information desk with your passport. You’ll need your passport and flight details to buy duty-free, and online or downtown purchases are collected at the airport after passport control. Amounts and conditions change month to month, so compare the shop’s own coupon page on the day. Lotte’s flagship store is in Myeongdong; see our Myeongdong shopping guide.

Can I combine the Grand Sale with a tax refund?

Yes. Grand Sale coupons are discounts from the shop; the tax refund is separate and still applies when you shop at stores marked “Tax Free”. Many shops give an instant refund at the till when you show your passport. Duty-free shops are already tax-free, so no refund applies there. Our Korea tax refund guide explains the limits and where to claim.

Tips for shopping during the Korea Grand Sale

• Check the official site for the participant list before your trip, and screenshot the offers you want.
• Visit the Myeongdong welcome centre early in your trip for the coupon book.
• Olive Young usually joins the sale — see our Olive Young guide.
• Entry rules for 2027: the K-ETA exemption for 22 countries runs until 31 December 2026; check K-ETA for 2027 trips before you fly.
• Seollal falls on 6–9 February 2027; some small shops close, but department stores and duty-free shops generally open.

Shopping trips are easiest outside the big holidays — compare the sale period with the 2027 Korean public holidays so your shopping days do not land on closures.

FAQ

When is the Korea Grand Sale 2027?
Provisionally 23 December 2026 to 13 February 2027, according to a Korea Tourism Organization listing; official confirmation usually comes in December.

Who can use the Korea Grand Sale?
Foreign visitors. Most offers require a passport, and some are for specific cards or bookings.

Is there a single Korea Grand Sale discount code?
No. Each company runs its own offers; the festival publishes them on its site and in a coupon book.

Can I still get a tax refund?
Yes, at Tax Free shops; the refund is separate from Grand Sale discounts.

Where is the welcome centre?
The 2027 listing names Noon Square, 1st floor, in Myeongdong, open 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Sources: Korea Times – 2026 Korea Grand Sale · Festival listing (Korea Tourism Organization data) – 2027 Korea Grand Sale · Kyunghyang Shinmun – Korea Grand Festival (October 2026) · Korea Grand Sale – official site
Photos: photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited in each caption