Olive Young Sale Calendar 2026: When to Shop (and Why Prices Drop)
Walking out of Olive Young with a full basket feels great, until you find out the big sale starts two days later. Nobody hands tourists the calendar. I'm a cosmetics marketer in Seoul, and planning promotions like these is part of my job, so here's the schedule, and the reason behind it.
Olive Young's big sale runs four times a year for about a week around the start of March, June, September and December. It often begins on the last day of the month before. In between, there's a featured-brand promotion all month and a members' event on the 25th–27th. Its own Black Friday sale runs in early November.
1The big quarterly sale 올영세일
March · June · September · December · about 7 days
This is the one to plan a trip around. Discounts go deeper, more brands join, and the app adds extra coupon packs. The dates shift a little each time, and the sale often starts on the last day of the previous month. In 2026 it ran Mar 1–7, May 31–Jun 6 and Aug 30–Sep 5.
The December 2026 dates aren't announced yet. Olive Young usually confirms them only a few days before. Last year's ran Nov 30 – Dec 6.
Who actually pays for the discount? The brand. Olive Young works as a sales platform: brands put their products on its shelves, and when a sale price drops, the brand covers the difference. (Olive Young's own private-label brands are the exception.) Brands plan promotions in quarterly calendars, and the big sale pulls in the most shoppers in one week, so that's where they spend their deepest discounts. It's also why the same product can be 40% off one week and full price the next.
Sale prices start on the same day in stores and in the app, so there's no early online deal to chase. Open the app the night before, build your list from the sale page, and grab the extra coupon packs when they drop.
2Monthly deals between big sales
Missed the big one? There's still a rhythm to the month.
| Deal | When | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Young Pick 올영픽 | All month | That month's featured brands, with an extra discount or a free gift |
| Olive Day 올영데이 | 25th–27th | Discounts and coupons that depend on your member tier |
| Today's special 오늘의 특가 | Every day | One-day price drops, mostly in the app |
| 1+1 deals | Change often | A second unit free. Most promos run on a monthly cycle |
A 1+1 isn't always about generosity. Brands use it to get a product onto more faces, to clear stock before a packaging change, or to hit a monthly sales target. None of that makes it a bad deal. It just means you should look at the box before you grab two.
Don't stock up at full price in the last week of February, May, August or November. The big sale is days away.
32026–2027 calendar at a glance
| When | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25–27, 2026 | Olive Day | Monthly, members' discounts |
| Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026 | K-Sale Festa (nationwide shopping festival) | Dates confirmed. Olive Young hasn't announced whether it joins |
| Early November 2026 | Olive Young Black Friday | Expected. Last year it ran Nov 1–7 |
| Around Dec 1, 2026 | Olive Young Sale | Expected. Last year Nov 30 – Dec 6 |
| Around Mar 1, 2027 | Olive Young Sale | Expected |
I'll update this table as soon as dates are announced.
4Before you pay
- Bring your physical passport. At participating stores, mostly in tourist areas, the tax refund comes off your bill at the register. Spend at least ₩15,000 on one receipt, keep each receipt under ₩1,000,000 and your trip total under ₩5,000,000. A photo of your passport won't work, and I'd pay at a staffed counter, not self-checkout.
- Check the dates on the box. Korean cosmetics show either an expiry date 사용기한, or a use-within period after opening 개봉 후 사용기간 together with the manufacture date 제조연월일. On a deep 1+1, check both units.
- Don't count on a membership. The Olive Young Global membership doesn't work in Korean stores, and the in-store membership needs a Korean phone number. The good news: big-sale prices are on the shelf tags for everyone.
Final thoughts
If you can move your trip by a week, aim for the start of March, June, September or December. If you can't, the monthly deals still beat paying full price. Planning a trip soon? Tell me your dates in the comments and I'll tell you what's on.
FAQ
When is the next Olive Young sale?
Olive Young's Black Friday is expected in early November 2026, and the next big sale around December 1. Exact dates are usually announced a few days before. This post is updated when they are.
Is Olive Young cheaper during a sale than buying online abroad?
Often, but not always. It depends on the product and where you live. I compare specific products in the Price Check posts.
Do I need a membership to get sale prices?
No. Big-sale prices are for everyone. Extra coupons and Olive Day tier discounts need the app or the Korean membership, which requires a Korean phone number.
Can I get a tax refund at Olive Young?
Yes, at participating stores. Bring your physical passport and spend between ₩15,000 and ₩1,000,000 on one receipt.
- CJ newsroom and Korean news on the 2026 Olive Young Sales (March, June, September) and the 2025 Black Friday and December sales
- Olive Young Myeongdong Town store page (tax refund, membership)
- Korean Cosmetics Act labeling rules (law.go.kr)
- K-Sale Festa 2026 announcement
Sales and prices change often. Spotted something outdated? Tell me.
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