If you’ve been in and out of Olive Young a few times during your trip, you’ve probably been asked at checkout whether you want to sign up for a membership. For a short visit, it’s easy to wave it off — but depending on how much you’re shopping, it might actually be worth the two minutes it takes.
What the Membership Actually Offers
Points accumulation — a percentage of each purchase converts to points, redeemable on future purchases
Birthday and seasonal coupons — periodic discount coupons sent to members, though timing doesn’t always align with a short trip
Access to member-only sales — certain promotional events are membership-exclusive or offer better pricing for members
App-based deals — the Olive Young app (or Global Mall account) often surfaces additional discounts not available to non-members
Is It Worth It for a Short Trip?
Probably worth it if:
You’re planning multiple Olive Young visits across your trip (common if you’re staying more than a few days)
Your total spending is likely to be substantial — even a small percentage back adds up on a large haul
You might return to Korea in the future — the account and any remaining points typically stay active
Probably skip it if:
You’re only visiting Olive Young once, for a small purchase
You’re short on time and don’t want to deal with sign-up forms mid-shopping trip
You’re not planning to return to Korea and won’t use the account again
How to Sign Up as a Tourist
In-store: staff can usually set up a basic membership on the spot, sometimes requiring just a phone number (an international number often works, though this can vary by store)
Global Mall account: if you already created an Olive Young Global Mall account (covered in our earlier guide), this may already function as your membership for points purposes — worth asking staff to confirm rather than assuming
No Korean ID required — this is genuinely tourist-friendly; you don’t need a resident registration number to get basic membership benefits
Points: What to Realistically Expect
Point accumulation is typically a small percentage of purchase value — this isn’t a major discount mechanism, more of a modest bonus
Points may expire or have limited validity, so if you’re not returning to Korea, don’t count on using them later unless you’re shopping again within the membership’s active window
For most short-trip tourists, the points themselves are a minor bonus rather than a primary reason to sign up
The Real Value: Coupons and Sale Access
Honestly, the bigger benefit for tourists isn’t the points system — it’s getting flagged into the coupon/promotion pipeline during your specific visit. If you sign up early in your trip:
You may become eligible for a welcome or first-purchase coupon
You’ll see member pricing on any sales happening during your visit window
Staff can sometimes apply an immediate small discount just for signing up, depending on current promotions
This varies by store and current promotions, so it’s worth asking directly rather than assuming a fixed benefit.
Practical Tips
Sign up on your first visit, not your last — this way you can actually benefit from any coupons or promotions during the rest of your trip
Keep your phone number consistent across visits if you’re shopping at multiple Olive Young locations, so points/benefits track correctly to one account
Ask staff directly what’s currently being offered — promotions change frequently, and front-line staff usually know the current deals better than what’s listed generically online
Final Thought
For a quick single visit, membership sign-up is genuinely optional and won’t make a meaningful difference. But if Olive Young is going to be a recurring stop throughout your trip — which it is for a lot of visitors following a guide like this one — the two minutes it takes to sign up can translate into real coupon access and a small ongoing discount. Worth doing on your first visit rather than skipping it and wondering later.
Next up: a guide to Korean skincare for men — what’s different, and where tourists shopping for a partner or friend should start.
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