Korea Grand Festival 2026 for K-Beauty Shoppers: Duty-Free, Online Deals and Welcome Week

The government’s second Korea Grand Festival runs for 18 days, from Thursday, Oct 29 to Sunday, Nov 15, with about 40,000 companies taking part. For K-beauty shoppers the relevant pieces are 25 duty-free shops offering up to 25 percent off liquor, cosmetics and some other goods, a joint online shopping week for overseas consumers with Olive Young, Musinsa and Kurly, and a welcome week from Oct 30 with travel discounts.

What the festival is

The government announced the festival on Oct 27, 2026, according to the Korea Herald and Korea’s Asia Business Daily. It is the second edition, it runs 18 days and about 40,000 companies are participating, more than last year. Most of the headline discounts are aimed at Korean households, such as cars, appliances, Korean beef and kimchi ingredients, but several parts are aimed at foreign visitors.

Duty-free shops

According to the Asia Business Daily and the Busan Ilbo, 25 duty-free shops nationwide, including online duty-free stores, offer up to 25 percent off liquor, cosmetics and some other items. The Asia Business Daily lists Lotte, Shilla, Shinsegae and Hyundai among them and adds that shops provide coupons by purchase amount, prepaid cards and gifts. The Korea Herald’s English report says the same 25 shops, including Lotte, Shilla and Shinsegae, offer up to 25 percent off liquor and cosmetics.

The reports do not break the 25 percent down by brand or product, so the shop’s own festival page or counter is where to see which cosmetics are included.

The K-Online Shopping Week

The Busan Ilbo reports that a K-Online Shopping Week brings Olive Young, Musinsa and Kurly together for a joint promotion aimed at overseas consumers, covering beauty, fashion and food. The Korea Herald’s English report describes the same effort as a Do it like a Korean online promotion for overseas shoppers buying from Olive Young, Musinsa and other Korean brands that sell directly abroad.

Travel savings for visitors

The welcome week runs from Oct 30 to Nov 15 at major airports and seaports, with multilingual tourist information. The government’s package, as reported, includes up to 25 percent off portable Wi-Fi and eSIMs, 2,000 won off the Airport Railroad express train and up to 35 percent off tours and activities.

Four Joseon palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs open free to visitors during the festival, with regular closing days and Changdeokgung’s rear garden excluded, according to the Asia Business Daily. K-Heritage stores at the palaces take 10 percent off some cultural goods. The National Orchestra of Korea gives a free concert at the National Theater of Korea on Nov 14.

How tax refunds fit in

The Korea Times explains the refund rule that applies to visitors’ shopping in general. The Korea Customs Service refunds domestic taxes, including value-added tax, to foreign shoppers. Eligibility requires a customs verification of export goods at an airport or port, with departure from Korea within three months. A separate Korea Times report from 2025, using Hana Card data, says chains such as Olive Young, Musinsa and Daiso offer refunds to foreign customers only in limited cases, such as a minimum single-payment purchase or shopping at selected stores.

Where this fits with Olive Young’s own sales

The Korea Times reports that Olive Young’s own big sale runs in March, June, September and December, and the Korea JoongAng Daily reports that foreigners made up 33 percent of its in-store sales by August 2026. The festival’s online shopping week is a separate government-led promotion that runs alongside the company’s regular calendar.

A plan for the festival days

1. If you arrive on or after Oct 30, look for the welcome week desks at the airport or seaport for multilingual information and the Wi-Fi, eSIM and train discounts.
2. Pick your duty-free shop or its online store and check which cosmetics are part of the up to 25 percent offer before you buy.
3. Look for the K-Online Shopping Week offers from Olive Young, Musinsa and Kurly if you shop from overseas.
4. Keep receipts and your passport together if you plan to claim a tax refund, which requires departure within three months.
5. Add a palace visit, since four palaces, Jongmyo and the royal tombs are free during the festival.

• Festival dates saved: Oct 29 to Nov 15
• Duty-free shop or online store chosen
• Tax refund requirements understood
• Palace visit and Nov 14 concert considered

Frequently asked questions