Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, “Starting from July, departure fees included in airfare will be reduced for overseas departures.”

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yoo In-chon) will reduce the burden paid upon departure from July 1st by 3,000 won from 10,000 won to 7,000 won, and expand the exemption from children under 2 to under 12 to reduce the burden on citizens. announced that it would reduce.

The departure payment is for domestic and foreign nationals departing overseas through domestic airports and ports, and was introduced in 1997 to resolve the tourism balance deficit and establish a domestic tourism base (infrastructure).

This reorganization is in accordance with the ‘Plan to improve the charge and strengthen the management system’ announced at the 23rd Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting on March 27th and the revision of the enforcement ordinance of the 『Tourism Development Promotion Fund Act』 implemented on June 4th, introducing a departure fee. This is the first major reorganization since it was established. Through this, 47 million people are expected to benefit from a tax reduction each year, and the burden on people’s lives is expected to be eased, especially when traveling with families with children under elementary school.

The departure fee reduction applies to all domestic and foreign nationals departing from July 1 of this year, and if airline tickets were booked before July 1, before the enforcement of the law, the fee has already been paid.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that it plans to refund the reduced fee to departing travelers, and that detailed procedures for this are being discussed with Incheon International Airport Corporation and Korea Airports Corporation.

This reorganization was reviewed in a way that would maintain the system but reduce the burden on the public as much as possible, taking into account the fact that many overseas countries impose a departure tax and the departure tax being a source of resources for the Tourism Promotion and Development Fund. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it plans to reduce the departure fee collection entrustment fee (5.5% → 4.0%) from April this year and continue to ensure fairness and transparency in the management of the fee.

Editor. Seyoung Hong