Korean Dictionary
How to say "Duty free" in Korean
“Duty free” in Korean is 면세점 (pronounced "Myeonsejeom").
면세점
Myeonsejeom
Usage & Context
Korea is famous for its duty-free shopping, especially at Incheon Airport and in the Myeongdong area. Popular items include Korean cosmetics (Sulwhasoo, Laneige), luxury goods, and Korean snacks. Korea's duty-free market is one of the world's largest.
Example Sentence
인천공항 면세점에서 화장품을 많이 사요.
Many people buy cosmetics at the Incheon Airport duty-free shop.
How to use 면세점 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Duty free” is 면세점, romanized as Myeonsejeom.
Usage tip
Pair this travel word with polite request endings like -요 so it works in hotels, stations, taxis, and shops.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 면세점.
Pronunciation Guide
면 (myeon) sounds like 'myun' in 'myung-rang hotdog'. 세 (se) is pronounced like 'say' in 'say hello'. 점 (jeom) sounds like 'juhm' or 'jeom' as in 'geometry'. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Expressing excitement about pre-flight shopping plans.
출국 전에 면세점에서 쇼핑해야지!
I have to shop at the duty-free store before departing!
Describing the scale and variety of a famous duty-free location.
인천공항 면세점은 정말 크고 브랜드도 많아요.
Incheon Airport duty-free shop is really big and has many brands.
Explaining the financial benefit of duty-free shopping.
면세점에서 사면 좀 더 저렴하게 살 수 있어요.
If you buy it at the duty-free shop, you can buy it a bit cheaper.
Cultural Context
Korea is renowned as a global hub for duty-free shopping, with major players like Lotte, Shilla, and Shinsegae Duty Free. These stores are not only found at airports but also in city centers (like Myeongdong), where purchases are picked up at the airport upon departure. K-beauty products, luxury goods, and fashion items are extremely popular, attracting countless international tourists.
Editorial note
We review entries like 면세점 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
면세점 쇼핑
Duty-free shopping
인천공항 면세점
Incheon Airport duty-free shop
시내 면세점
Downtown duty-free shop
Related Expressions
세금
segeum
Tax
공항
gonghang
Airport
쇼핑
syoping
Shopping
할인
harin
Discount
More Travel Words
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