Foreign tourists in Korea can get a refund on value-added tax (VAT) when they shop at stores with a "Tax Free" sign. For expensive electronics such as smartphones, laptops, and cameras, the amount you get back and when you get it depend on the refund method and the customs steps you follow when you leave. Tax Free is a system that lets foreign tourists claim back the tax on goods they buy during a trip. A Global Tax Free notice posted at a store entrance in Seoul's Myeongdong shopping district. Photo: Tenant News Refunds are about 4–8% of the purchase price The Tax Free refund applies to foreign tourists who spend at least ₩15,000 per receipt. The amount you actually get back is about 4–8% of the purchase price. The taxes refunded are VAT and the individual consumption tax. The VAT included in the price is about 9%, and you receive that amount minus the refund agency's fee. You qualify if you are a non-resident foreigner staying in Korea for less th...
SHUTTLE Delivery is the Korean food delivery app that lets you sign up without a Korean phone number. It is built for foreigners. You pay with an international credit card or PayPal, and the app screens are available in English, Japanese, and Chinese. Baemin (배달의민족, also called Baemin or "Baeminㅤ") also lets foreigners order at Han River parks with only a text-message code sent to an overseas phone number. This guide covers the sign-up requirements for both apps, how to get your food at a Han River park, and how to enter an address for a regular home or hotel.
SHUTTLE: Sign Up Without a Korean Number
SHUTTLE Delivery is a food delivery app for foreigners. You do not need a Korean phone number, a Korean bank account, or phone verification. You pay with an international credit card or PayPal. The app is free on Google Play and the App Store.
The app screens support English, Japanese, and Chinese. Menus appear in Korean and English. You can get English customer support through live chat in the app, and you can message your delivery driver there too.
SHUTTLE serves four cities, including seven districts (gu) in Seoul. Delivery is limited in some areas.
- Seoul: Yongsan-gu, Gangnam-gu, Mapo-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Jung-gu, Jongno-gu, Gwangjin-gu
- Gyeonggi: Pyeongtaek
- Busan: Haeundae, Gwangalli, Seomyeon
- Daegu: Nam-gu
Baemin: Overseas Number Verification at the Han River
At Han River parks, foreigners can order on Baemin (배달의민족) with only a text-message code sent to an overseas phone number. You do not need to create a separate account. Seoul City and Baemin signed an agreement to lower two barriers for foreign visitors to the Han River: Korean phone verification and the need for a Korean credit card. Baemin also runs a Han River festival information page in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
The Baemin listing in the App Store shows support for English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. The same listing mentions a first-order coupon worth 100% off, up to 12,000 won.
Baemin and Foreign Cards: Mixed Reviews
Results with foreign cards on Baemin differ from user to user. Baemin's English user guide says the app accepts foreign cards. But an App Store review from November 2025 complains that foreigners can only use Mastercard, and that some Visa cards are not accepted. If you need to pay with a foreign card, SHUTTLE has clearer terms, because it accepts international credit cards and PayPal.
17 Han River Delivery Zones: Set Your Address First
At a Han River park, you choose a designated delivery zone as your delivery location and pick up your food there. A delivery zone (baedaljon, 배달존) is an area in the park set aside for receiving delivery food. Seoul has 17 Han River delivery zones across 11 Han River parks. SHUTTLE also handles Han River orders this way: you order to a designated delivery zone and pick up there.
For the Ichon Han River Park delivery zone, set the address at the top of the app to "Ichon Han River Park" (이촌한강공원) when you order. The zone is an orange "delivery zone" (배달존) tent on one side of Parking Lot 2. For other parks, enter the delivery zone's address as your delivery location. Examples:
- Ttukseom Han River Park, Delivery Zone 1: 427-1 Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu
- Yeouido Han River Park, Delivery Zone 1: 85 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu
3,000-Won Han River Coupon, Small Tents Only
From October 1 to November 30, Seoul City is running a "Han River Delivery Zone Special Discount Event." On the public delivery app Seoul Baedal+ Ttaenggyeoyo (서울배달+땡겨요), set your delivery location to a Han River delivery zone and order at least 25,000 won to receive a 3,000-won coupon.
Only small tents (2 m × 2 m, or about 6.6 ft × 6.6 ft, with at least two open sides) are allowed in the designated areas of Han River parks. Tent hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Using a tent outside those hours, drinking and singing, dumping trash, and setting up a large tent can all lead to fines.
Regular Addresses: Include Building, Floor, and Unit Number
For a regular address, enter the road-name address and add the building number, floor, and unit number. The main entrance (gongdong hyeongwan, 공동현관) is the shared door at the entrance of an apartment or villa building. If the main entrance has a passcode, write it in the request box. If the building uses an intercom to open the door, write your unit number.
Delivery fees depend on the restaurant's cost-sharing ratio, the distance, and the delivery type. Single-order delivery (hanjip baedal, 한집배달), where the driver carries only your order, usually costs more than budget delivery (alttul baedal, 알뜰배달), where the driver bundles several orders. You cannot place an order if it is below the minimum order amount.
First Order with a Foreign Card: 4 Steps
Start your first order by deciding how long you will stay and which card you will pay with.
1. Decide how long you will stay and which card you will use. If you only have an international credit card, SHUTTLE is the option. If you have a Korean card and a Korean number, Baemin is also an option.
2. If you are using an international credit card, install SHUTTLE from Google Play or the App Store.
3. Enter your lodging address and check whether it is inside the service area.
4. Place your first order. For a Han River park, the delivery location is a delivery zone. For a regular address, it is the road-name address plus building number, floor, and unit number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What currency does SHUTTLE accept?
A. The official SHUTTLE website says it accepts credit cards and PayPal, and that you can pay in Korean won or US dollars. You place orders in English and Korean.
Q. What are SHUTTLE's ordering hours?
A. The official SHUTTLE website lists its hours as 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
Q. Can I use SHUTTLE near US military bases?
A. The official SHUTTLE website says it has delivery hubs near Osan Air Base, Camp Humphreys, Camp Walker, and Camp Henry.
Which Korean food delivery app you use depends on your payment card and whether you have a Korean phone number. If you only have an international credit card, start with SHUTTLE. If you are at a Han River park, start by ordering to a delivery zone. Once you place your first order, you will have far more choices for meals in Korea.