Knowing how to inquire about exchanges or refunds is crucial when shopping, especially in a foreign country. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and vocabulary for navigating the exchange and refund process at shopping malls in Korea, ensuring a smoother shopping experience.
Table Of Content
Core Expressions for Exchanges and Refunds
-
Expression: 교환하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: gyo-hwan-ha-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to exchange this. -
Expression: 환불하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: hwan-bul-ha-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want a refund. -
Expression: 교환/환불 규정이 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: gyo-hwan / hwan-bul gyu-jeong-i eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the exchange/refund policy?
Basic Phrases for Inquiries
-
Expression: 이거 교환/환불 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: i-geo gyo-hwan / hwan-bul ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it possible to exchange/refund this? -
Expression: 영수증 여기 있어요.
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung yeo-gi i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Here is the receipt. -
Expression: 어제 여기서 샀어요.
Pronunciation: eo-je yeo-gi-seo sa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I bought it here yesterday. -
Expression: 며칠 전에 샀어요.
Pronunciation: myeo-chil jeon-e sa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I bought it a few days ago. -
Expression: 선물 받았는데 사이즈가 안 맞아요.
Pronunciation: seon-mul ba-dat-neun-de sa-i-jeu-ga an ma-ja-yo.
Meaning: I received it as a gift, but the size doesn’t fit. -
Expression: 마음에 안 들어서요.
Pronunciation: ma-eum-e an deul-eo-seo-yo.
Meaning: Because I don’t like it / I changed my mind. -
Expression: 포장은 뜯지 않았어요.
Pronunciation: po-jang-eun tteut-ji a-na-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I haven’t opened the packaging. -
Expression: 택은 그대로 있어요.
Pronunciation: taek-eun geu-dae-ro i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The tag is still attached. -
Expression: 고객센터가 어디에 있나요?
Pronunciation: go-gaek-sen-teo-ga eo-di-e it-na-yo?
Meaning: Where is the customer service center? -
Expression: 교환/환불은 며칠까지 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: gyo-hwan / hwan-bul-eun myeo-chil-kka-ji ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Until when can I exchange/refund this? (Lit: Until which day is exchange/refund possible?)
Phrases for Requesting an Exchange
-
Expression: 다른 사이즈로 교환하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: da-reun sa-i-jeu-ro gyo-hwan-ha-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to exchange it for a different size. -
Expression: 더 큰/작은 사이즈 있어요?
Pronunciation: deo keun / ja-geun sa-i-jeu i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Do you have a bigger/smaller size? -
Expression: 다른 색상으로 교환할 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: da-reun saek-sang-eu-ro gyo-hwan-hal su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I exchange it for a different color? -
Expression: 이 색깔 말고 다른 색깔은 없나요?
Pronunciation: i saek-kkal mal-go da-reun saek-kka-reun eom-na-yo?
Meaning: Besides this color, are there no other colors? -
Expression: 제품에 하자가 있어요.
Pronunciation: je-pum-e ha-ja-ga i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: There is a defect in the product. -
Expression: 여기가 찢어졌어요 / 얼룩이 묻었어요.
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-ga jji-jeo-jeo-sseo-yo / eol-lu-gi mu-deo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: It’s torn here / There’s a stain here. -
Expression: 같은 제품 새것으로 교환해 주세요.
Pronunciation: ga-teun je-pum sae-geo-seu-ro gyo-hwan-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please exchange it for a new one of the same product. -
Expression: 이거 말고 다른 상품으로 교환해도 되나요?
Pronunciation: i-geo mal-go da-reun sang-pum-eu-ro gyo-hwan-hae-do doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I exchange this for a different item instead? -
Expression: 차액은 어떻게 계산하나요?
Pronunciation: cha-ae-geun eo-tteo-ke gye-san-ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How is the price difference calculated? -
Expression: 이 디자인으로 다른 사이즈 보여주세요.
Pronunciation: i di-ja-in-eu-ro da-reun sa-i-jeu bo-yeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please show me other sizes in this design.
Phrases for Requesting a Refund
-
Expression: 전액 환불해 주세요.
Pronunciation: jeon-aek hwan-bul-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me a full refund. -
Expression: 환불은 어떻게 처리되나요?
Pronunciation: hwan-bul-eun eo-tteo-ke cheo-ri-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: How is the refund processed? -
Expression: 카드로 결제했는데, 카드 취소해 주세요.
Pronunciation: ka-deu-ro gyeol-je-haet-neun-de, ka-deu chwi-so-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: I paid by card, please cancel the card payment. -
Expression: 현금으로 환불받을 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum-eu-ro hwan-bul-ba-deul su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I receive the refund in cash? -
Expression: 환불받는 데 얼마나 걸리나요?
Pronunciation: hwan-bul-bat-neun de eol-ma-na geol-li-na-yo?
Meaning: How long does it take to receive the refund? -
Expression: 단순 변심으로 환불하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: dan-sun byeon-sim-eu-ro hwan-bul-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I want a refund simply because I changed my mind. (Formal) -
Expression: 환불 사유를 말씀드려야 하나요?
Pronunciation: hwan-bul sa-yu-reul mal-sseum-deu-ryeo-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to state the reason for the refund? -
Expression: 영수증을 잃어버렸는데 환불 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung-eul i-reo-beo-ryeot-neun-de hwan-bul ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: I lost the receipt, is a refund still possible? -
Expression: 환불 절차를 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: hwan-bul jeol-cha-reul al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the refund procedure. -
Expression: 세일 상품도 환불되나요?
Pronunciation: se-il sang-pum-do hwan-bul-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Can sale items also be refunded?
Useful Vocabulary
-
Expression: 영수증
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung
Meaning: Receipt -
Expression: 사이즈
Pronunciation: sa-i-jeu
Meaning: Size -
Expression: 색상
Pronunciation: saek-sang
Meaning: Color -
Expression: 하자 / 결함
Pronunciation: ha-ja / gyeol-ham
Meaning: Defect / Flaw -
Expression: 가격표 / 택
Pronunciation: ga-gyeok-pyo / taek
Meaning: Price tag / Tag -
Expression: 포장
Pronunciation: po-jang
Meaning: Packaging -
Expression: 교환
Pronunciation: gyo-hwan
Meaning: Exchange -
Expression: 환불
Pronunciation: hwan-bul
Meaning: Refund -
Expression: 규정 / 정책
Pronunciation: gyu-jeong / jeong-chaek
Meaning: Regulation / Policy -
Expression: 고객센터
Pronunciation: go-gaek-sen-teo
Meaning: Customer Service Center -
Expression: 결제 취소
Pronunciation: gyeol-je chwi-so
Meaning: Payment cancellation -
Expression: 단순 변심
Pronunciation: dan-sun byeon-sim
Meaning: Simple change of mind
Korean Culture Notes
Receipt is Key: Always keep your receipt (영수증 – yeong-su-jeung)! It’s almost always required for exchanges or refunds in Korea. Some stores might accept card transaction records, but the physical receipt is preferred.
Time Limits: Most stores have a specific window for returns, often 7 to 14 days. Department stores might be more flexible, but smaller shops can be stricter. Always check the policy at the time of purchase if possible.
Item Condition: For an exchange or refund, the item usually needs to be in its original condition – unused, with tags attached (택 – taek), and preferably in the original packaging (포장 – po-jang). Items damaged by the customer are generally not accepted.
Sale Items: Be aware that sale items (세일 상품 – se-il sang-pum) often have stricter return policies, sometimes allowing only exchanges or no returns at all. This is usually indicated at the time of sale.
Store Differences: Large department stores (백화점 – baek-hwa-jeom) usually have dedicated customer service centers and clear policies. Smaller boutiques or market stalls might handle returns more informally, and policies can vary greatly.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A customer (A) wants to exchange a shirt they bought yesterday at a clothing store because the size is wrong. They approach a store clerk (B).
-
Expression: A: 저기요, 이 셔츠 어제 여기서 샀는데요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, i syeo-cheu eo-je yeo-gi-seo san-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: Excuse me, I bought this shirt here yesterday. -
Expression: B: 네, 고객님. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, go-gaeng-nim. mu-eo-seul do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Yes, customer. How may I help you? -
Expression: A: 사이즈가 좀 작아서 교환하고 싶어요. 영수증 여기 있습니다.
Pronunciation: sa-i-jeu-ga jom ja-ga-seo gyo-hwan-ha-go si-peo-yo. yeong-su-jeung yeo-gi it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: The size is a bit small, so I’d like to exchange it. Here is the receipt. -
Expression: B: 네, 확인해 보겠습니다. 택은 그대로 붙어있죠? 혹시 입으셨나요?
Pronunciation: ne, hwa-gin-hae bo-get-seum-ni-da. taek-eun geu-dae-ro bu-teo-it-jyo? hok-si i-beu-syeot-na-yo?
Meaning: Okay, let me check. The tag is still attached, right? Have you worn it by any chance? -
Expression: A: 아니요, 입어보진 않았고 택도 그대로 있어요. 한 사이즈 큰 걸로 있을까요?
Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, i-beo-bo-jin a-nat-go taek-do geu-dae-ro i-sseo-yo. han sa-i-jeu keun geol-lo i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: No, I haven’t worn it, and the tag is still there. Do you have one size larger? -
Expression: B: 네, 잠시만요. 재고 확인해 볼게요… 네, L 사이즈 하나 있습니다. 이걸로 교환해 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, jam-si-man-yo. jae-go hwa-gin-hae bol-ge-yo… ne, el sa-i-jeu ha-na it-seum-ni-da. i-geol-lo gyo-hwan-hae deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Yes, just a moment. I’ll check the inventory… Yes, we have one L size. Shall I exchange it for this one? -
Expression: A: 네, 그걸로 주세요. 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: ne, geu-geol-lo ju-se-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, please give me that one. Thank you. -
Expression: B: 네, 교환 처리해 드렸습니다. 여기 새 상품입니다.
Pronunciation: ne, gyo-hwan cheo-ri-hae deu-ryeot-seum-ni-da. yeo-gi sae sang-pum-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Okay, the exchange has been processed. Here is the new item.
Practice Tips
Handling returns can feel a bit intimidating, but knowing these phrases will boost your confidence! Try practicing them out loud~ Role-play the conversation example with a friend or language partner. Pay attention to the staff’s responses when you are actually shopping in Korea, even if you aren’t returning anything; you’ll pick up more nuances! Start with simple requests like asking about the policy (교환 규정이 어떻게 되나요? – gyo-hwan gyu-jeong-i eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?) before attempting a full exchange or refund. You can do it! 파이팅!
