Departure Tax Included in Airfare Reduced from 10,000 Won to 7,000 Won

Applicable to all domestic and foreign travelers departing from next month
Exemption age expanded from under 2 to under 12 years old

The departure fee paid together with the airfare by passengers departing from domestic airports will be reduced from 10,000 won to 7,000 won. The exemption eligibility will also be expanded from under 2 years old to under 12 years old.

Travelers visiting Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 3rd, ahead of the Children's Day holiday, are lining up to check in. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 28th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that the revised law will apply to all domestic and foreign travelers departing from next month.

Domestic and foreign travelers who booked their tickets before the enforcement but depart next month will also receive a refund for the reduced fee. A ministry official explained, "We are in consultation with the collection consignees, Incheon International Airport and Korea Airports Corporation," adding, "Once the 'Online Refund Claim System for Departure Fee' is established, the refund process will proceed."

This measure follows the 'Plan to Revise Fees and Strengthen Management Systems' announced at the Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting in March and the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Development Promotion Fund Act on the 4th. Considering that many countries impose departure taxes and that the departure fee funds the Tourism Promotion Development Fund, the system will be maintained.

The departure fee was introduced in 1997 to address the tourism balance deficit and to build a domestic tourism infrastructure, promoting the tourism industry. This is the first major change to its content.

A ministry official stated, "An estimated 47 million people annually will benefit from the fee reduction," and added, "Especially with the exemption eligibility greatly expanded to under 12 years old, the burden is expected to ease for family trips with children in elementary school or younger."