Jeju doubles travel retail purchasing allowance for Korean shoppers

SOUTH KOREA. The South Korean government is to double the purchasing allowance for Korean nationals visiting Jeju Island from next year.

The existing US$400 duty free allowance will be supplemented by a further US$400 allowance, which is taxable. The allowance will remain applicable on up to six visits a year.

A senior duty free executive in Jeju confirmed a story in the Korean Times and told The Moodie Report that the new policy is expected to come into effect before summer 2014. It will allow retailers to expand their luxury offering to items valued from US$400-800.


Jeju Island is host to several downtown duty free stores, but only two operators are licensed to sell to Korean visitors - Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) at the airport (pictured above) and Jeju Tourism Organization downtown.

According to the Korean Times the government decision was mediated by the Prime Minister’s office after a stand-off between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation (which favoured the move) and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.