Olive Young Membership for Foreigners: Does It Work in Korea? (2026)
"Can I sign up for Olive Young membership while I'm in Seoul?" and "Does my Olive Young Global account work in Korean stores?" are two questions I see all the time. I'm a Green Olive member myself, so here's the honest answer for tourists, residents, and anyone with a Global or US account, plus what actually saves you money at the counter instead.
Olive Young's Korea membership needs a Korea-issued ID (like an Alien Registration Card), so most tourists can't join. Your Olive Young Global or Olive Young US membership doesn't work in Korean stores either: they're separate programs. As a visitor, your in-store savings are the instant tax refund, the 5% social-follow discount on ₩100,000+, and the regular sales and 1+1 deals.
1Can foreigners join Olive Young membership?
Residents with a Korean ID can. Tourists usually can't.
Olive Young's Korea membership runs on a CJ ONE account, CJ Group's shared membership ID. When you sign up, you verify yourself with Korean identity details. Foreigners are asked for the number on a Korea-issued card: an Alien Registration Card (ARC), an overseas Korean residence card, or a permanent residence card. A passport alone isn't on that list, and verification normally goes through a Korean mobile number too.
So in practice:
- Living in Korea with an ARC and a Korean number: you can join and get the same tiers and coupons as anyone else.
- Visiting on a passport: you can't create a Korea membership account. You can still shop, get the tax refund and use in-store deals.
You may see travel blogs saying you can sign up with just an email. That isn't how the Korea membership's identity check works, so don't plan your shopping around it.
2Does Olive Young Global membership work in Korea?
No. Global, US and Korea are three separate memberships.
Olive Young Global (the English site that ships abroad) has its own tiers, but its membership page says the benefits don't work outside Olive Young Global, including at Olive Young stores in Korea. Olive Young US, which launched in May 2026, has its own O.Y Members program too, and its terms say the benefits don't apply at Olive Young stores in Korea.
So your Global points, coupons and barcode won't scan at a Korean till. For more on how the three Olive Youngs differ, see my Olive Young Global vs US vs Korea guide.
For reference, here's how Olive Young Global's tiers work (spend per half-year, checked October 11, 2026):
| Global tier | Spend per half-year | Points back |
|---|---|---|
| Baby | New member | 0.5% |
| Pink | $1–119.99 | 1% |
| Green | $120–179.99 | 1.5% |
| Black | $180–299.99 | 2% |
| Gold | $300+ | 2.5% |
3Olive Young membership tiers in Korea
Five tiers based on what you spent in the last 6 months.
If you live in Korea and join, your tier depends on how much you spent online and in stores over the previous 6 months, per CJ's April 2026 announcement:
| Korea tier | Spend in last 6 months |
|---|---|
| Gold Olive | ₩1,000,000+ |
| Black Olive | ₩700,000–999,999 |
| Green Olive | ₩400,000–699,999 |
| Pink Olive | ₩100,000–399,999 |
| Baby Olive | Under ₩100,000 |
Higher tiers get bigger coupon packs (up to ₩24,000 worth; my Green tier gets an ₩8,000 pack), and your tier is updated on the 1st of every month, so a big haul can bump you up quickly. Members also get extra deals during Olive Day, the 25th to 27th of each month.
I'm Green, about ₩260,000 away from Black, and honestly the Black coupons are why I end up saving my shopping for the Olive Young Sale. From the brand side, tier coupons are a lever to push sales during the Olive Young Sale, which is why the coupons drop at the same time as the sale.
4Olive Young points
CJ ONE points for Korea members, plus new Olive Points since May 2026.
Korea members earn CJ ONE points on purchases (1% on my Green tier), which you can spend at Olive Young and other CJ brands once you have at least 1,000 points. In May 2026 Olive Young added its own "Olive Point," given through promotions and events on top of CJ ONE points, and usable like cash online and in stores. Points need a Korea account, so they're not something a tourist can collect.
5What tourists get instead
Tax refund, the 5% follow discount, and good timing.
- Instant tax refund: spend ₩15,000+ on one receipt and show your physical passport. You get about 5–8% back at the till. Details in my Olive Young tax refund guide.
- 5% off for following Olive Young Global: follow one of its official social accounts and show the screen at a staffed counter for 5% off ₩100,000+, up to ₩20,000. It's once per person, can't be combined with other coupons, and isn't available at self-checkout. Participating stores are listed on Olive Young Global's event page (dozens in Seoul, plus Busan, Jeju and more).
- Sales and 1+1 deals: no membership needed. Time your trip with my Olive Young sale calendar, and learn the shelf words in Olive Young 1+1 meaning.
- Tourist-area stores: Olive Young has over 110 stores in its "Global Shopping District" with English-, Japanese- and Chinese-speaking staff and English signs (CJ, July 2025).
Don't borrow a friend's membership barcode or ask a stranger online to "lend" theirs. The points and coupons belong to their account, and it's not worth the awkward moment at the counter for a few hundred won.
Final thoughts
If you're visiting, forget the membership: Olive Young's Korea program is built for residents with a Korean ID, and Global and US accounts don't carry over. Bring your passport, follow Olive Young Global for the 5% offer on a bigger haul, and shop during a sale. If you're living in Korea, joining is worth it for the tier coupons alone.
FAQ
Can tourists get Olive Young membership?
Usually not. The Korea membership asks for a Korea-issued ID such as an Alien Registration Card, and verification typically needs a Korean mobile number.
Does Olive Young Global membership work in Korea?
No. Olive Young Global says its membership doesn't work at Olive Young stores in Korea.
Does Olive Young US membership work in Korea?
No. Olive Young US's O.Y Members benefits only apply to Olive Young US, not to stores in Korea.
What are the Olive Young membership tiers?
In Korea: Baby, Pink, Green, Black and Gold Olive, based on your spend over the last 6 months, with Gold at ₩1,000,000 or more. Tiers update on the 1st of each month.
Is there an Olive Young discount for foreigners?
Yes: 5% off ₩100,000+ (up to ₩20,000) for following Olive Young Global on social media, at participating stores and staffed counters. The tax refund saves another 5–8%.
- Olive Young Global, OY Members page and "Visit KOREA and Enjoy 5% OFF!" event page (global.oliveyoung.com)
- Olive Young US, O.Y Members policy (us.oliveyoung.com)
- CJ Newsroom, Olive Young membership tiers and Olive Point, April 10, 2026; Global Shopping District stores, July 22, 2025
- Cosmorning, monthly tier upgrades, September 5, 2025
Membership rules change. Spotted something outdated? Tell me.
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