Returning an Online Order in Korea: Where to Start
LIVING IN KOREA · GUIDE 06
You open a package, but the item is wrong, damaged or not what you wanted. What should you do next? Start with the order page. A return request, a parcel pickup and a refund are three separate steps.
This guide covers physical goods bought online from a business in Korea. Overseas orders, private used-goods sales and digital purchases need different checks.
1. Open your order details
Look for 주문내역, which means order history. Select the item and check the available options. These words can help:
| Korean word | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| 주문취소 | Cancel an order. |
| 반품 | Return an item. |
| 교환 | Exchange an item. |
| 수거 | Collection of the item by a delivery company. |
| 환불 | Money returned to you. |
The buttons and process vary by shop. If the return button is missing, contact the seller through the order page. Save a copy of your request and the date you sent it.
2. Check the deadline early
For many online goods purchases, you have seven days to cancel after receiving the written contract details. If the goods arrive later, the period generally starts on delivery. Missing contract details and other special cases can change this date.
This right has exceptions. For example, goods you have damaged or used enough to greatly reduce their value may be excluded. Opening packaging just to inspect the contents does not, by itself, remove the right.
Different deadlines apply when goods do not match the description or purchase agreement. Check the official returns guide even if seven days have passed. A shop's policy cannot remove your legal rights.
3. Choose the correct reason and check the cost
If you simply change your mind, you generally pay the return delivery cost unless the shop offers better terms. Ask whether the amount includes the original delivery charge as well as the return trip.
If the item does not match the description or purchase agreement, the seller pays the return cost. Explain what is wrong and attach clear photos where useful. Keep a copy of the product page too.
Do not choose “changed my mind” just because it is the first option if the seller sent the wrong item. The reason matters when the delivery fee is decided.
4. Confirm how the item will go back
CJ Logistics advises customers to tell the shop first. The shop may arrange the return or tell you to book it with the delivery company.
Before booking anything yourself, check whether pickup is already arranged. Confirm the return address; it may differ from the address on the original parcel label.
Keep the item, tags and accessories together. Pack it securely and follow the shop's instructions. If pickup is arranged, confirm the day and place. Keep the return tracking number or receipt after handing over the parcel.
5. Follow the refund
A parcel being collected does not mean your money has been returned. Check both the return status and your payment record.
If you use this legal right to cancel, the seller generally must refund you within three business days of receiving the returned goods. Your card or payment account may show the refund later. Business days are working days, so weekends and public holidays can affect the count.
If the refund is delayed, ask the seller for the processing date and reference number. Then check with your payment provider if needed. If you disagree about your rights or the fee, contact a consumer advice service with your order records.
A message you can use
Hello. I would like to return this item. Could you tell me how to request pickup and how much the return delivery will cost?
Korean: 안녕하세요. 이 상품을 반품하고 싶습니다. 수거 신청 방법과 반품 배송비를 알려주시겠어요?
Add the actual reason for the return and share your order number through the shop's private support channel.
Information checked: September 8, 2026.
This is a general guide. The item, reason for return and purchase terms matter in an individual case.
Official sources
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