2026 Busan Olive Young September Big Sale: A Tourist's Money-Saving Guide

If you’re in Busan and want to stock up on Korean skincare, now is the time. Olive Young’s September Big Sale started on August 30 — one of only four major “Big Sale” events a year, with popular sunscreens, sheet masks, and skincare typically marked down 30–40% or more. It runs back-to-back with the end-of-month mini sale, making the last week of August through the first week of September one long discount window.

Sale Calendar (Now On)

Event	Dates	Notes
Monthly mini sale (올영데이)	Aug 25–27	Happens every month, smaller discounts but often stackable with coupons
September Big Sale	Aug 30–Sep 5	One of four major sales per year, the deepest discounts, popular items sell out fast

The two events run back-to-back, so if your trip falls in this window, go now. Traveling at a different time of year? See our year-round Olive Young sale calendar for when the next Big Sale lands. The Big Sale runs quarterly — March, June, September, and December — so if you miss this window, the next one is the December Big Sale, the biggest of the year for perfumes and beauty devices.

⚠️ The exact end date and specific perks of the Big Sale can shift. The dates above reflect the announced schedule and prior-year patterns — double-check Olive Young’s official channels for the latest before your visit.

Extra Perks for Foreign Visitors

• Tax Refund: At stores with the Tax Free sign, a single receipt over a certain amount (usually 15,000–30,000 KRW, threshold varies by store) qualifies for a refund of roughly 5–8%. Bring your physical passport — a photo on your phone is often not accepted. Many downtown branches offer instant in-store refunds, saving you the airport queue. For the full walkthrough and real refund examples, see our complete Olive Young tax refund guide.
• Mobile payment promotions: Olive Young occasionally runs discount campaigns tied to payment methods popular with foreign shoppers (such as Alipay or WeChat Pay). These often overlap with sale periods, so check store signage or official announcements.
• Prepaid mobile vouchers: Some travel platforms like Klook sell mobile gift vouchers redeemable at Olive Young in Korea. Buying one before your trip lets you skip currency-exchange hassle at checkout (availability depends on the platform at the time).

Recommended Branches in Busan

• Seomyeon: The most convenient by transit — a major subway interchange (Lines 1 and 2). The Seomyeon Town women’s store is Korea’s largest branch (2 floors, 890㎡), so sale stock tends to hold up better here.
• Nampo-dong / Gwangbok-ro: Right next to Jagalchi Market and BIFF Square, easy to combine with old-town sightseeing.
• Haeundae: Near the beach district and hotel area, convenient if you’re staying nearby.

For the full location list, maps, and a deep dive on Busan’s biggest branch, see our Olive Young Busan store guide.

Set Yourself Up Before the Sale

Sort out how you’ll pay and get around before you hit a crowded store, and stay close to the Seomyeon flagship so you can shop from day one.

What to Buy This Sale

• Sunscreen: Round Lab Birch Sunscreen (a 4-time consecutive Olive Young Awards sun-care category winner), Dr.G Green Mild Up (lightweight, sensitive-skin friendly), Torriden Dive-In (good for oily skin), SKIN1004 Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum (17M+ units sold)
• Sheet masks: Numbuzin, Medihal, and Abib — the three brands Olive Young itself highlights for foreign shoppers, all reliable repeat-buys
• Skincare: Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream and b_plain Mugwort Low-pH Cleansing Foam — both gentle enough for sensitive skin
• Cushion foundation: Whoo Cushion Glass — a 2026 breakout pick for a natural, skin-like finish

These items are frequently included in Big Sale discounts, so it’s worth adding them to your list. For picks broken down by skin type, see our 20 Must-Buy K-Beauty Items at Olive Young. Want the actual brand-by-brand discounted prices for this sale? See the Olive Young brands foreigners actually buy. Visiting in fall/winter and shopping for seasonal dryness? See our Olive Young autumn/winter skincare picks.

Shopping Tips

• Make a list first: Sheet masks, sunscreen, and serums are the most common purchases for foreign visitors — knowing what you want ahead of time saves browsing time in crowded stores.
• Grab a big basket from the start: Masks, lip balms, and snacks add up fast; a small basket fills up before you know it.
• Ask staff directly: A simple “what’s your best-selling sunscreen right now?” usually gets a helpful, fast answer.
• Combine purchases on one receipt: A single larger receipt is more likely to hit the tax refund threshold than several smaller ones.
• Go early in your trip: Popular items sell out fast during a Big Sale, so visiting on your first day is the safe move.

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📌 One last step before you go: before booking flights, hotels, or tour tickets, check our latest discount codes for anything you can use.

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