How to Return Empty Bottles in Korea and Get Your Deposit…

What is Korea’s empty bottle deposit system?

Korea’s empty bottle deposit system, called bin-yonggi bojeunggeum (빈용기 보증금), adds a small refundable fee to glass beer and soju bottles. You pay the deposit when you buy the drink. You get it back when you return the empty bottle to a shop. The Ministry of Environment runs this program across the country.

The deposit is not a tax. It is your money, held until you bring the bottle back. The system exists to boost reuse: returned glass bottles are washed and refilled by beverage makers. This cuts waste and saves resources.

The rules come from the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources, published in English by MOLEG. Daily operation is handled by the Korea Resources Circulation Service Agency (COSMO), the same agency that manages the disposable cup deposit system.

Many foreigners never notice the deposit because it is tiny per bottle. But it adds up. A month of dinners with friends can leave a box of bottles worth several thousand won. Korea recycling separation guide

How much is the Korea beverage container deposit refund amount?

The Korea beverage container deposit refund amount depends on bottle size. A standard soju bottle returns 100 won. A 500ml beer bottle returns 130 won. Larger bottles return more. The exact deposit is printed on the label next to a recycling mark, so you always know the value before you return it.

Here are the current deposit tiers set by the Ministry of Environment:

• Under 190ml: 70 won
• 190ml to under 400ml (most soju bottles): 100 won
• 400ml to under 1,000ml (most beer bottles): 130 won
• 1,000ml to under 1,500ml: 200 won
• 1,500ml and above: 350 won

“The deposit amount is printed on the container label so that consumers can confirm the refundable value before purchase and return.” - Ministry of Environment, Empty Container Deposit System

Only glass bottles that carry the printed deposit mark qualify. Plastic PET bottles, aluminum cans, and imported drinks without the mark are not part of the deposit system. Those go into normal recycling instead.

Where can you return empty bottles in Korea?

You can return empty bottles at any store that sells the same type of drink. Convenience stores like CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24 must accept them. Large marts like E-Mart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart accept them too. By law, each store must refund up to 30 bottles per person per day.

This is the simplest answer to where to return empty bottles Korea: the shop where you would buy the drink is also the place that takes it back. You do not need a receipt. You do not need to return to the exact store where you bought it.

Small convenience stores sometimes push back, saying they have no space. Legally they still must accept a reasonable number. If a clerk refuses, you can report it to the Ministry of Environment or through Government24. Store staff receive a small handling fee for each bottle they collect, so the return is not a loss for them.

Korea convenience store guide

If you are wondering how to return empty bottles Korea foreigner style, the process is identical for everyone. There is no ID check and no nationality rule. You hand over the bottles and receive coins or a small cash refund.

Where are reverse vending machines located for foreigners?

Reverse vending machines, called muin hoesugi (무인회수기), are automated bins that count bottles and cans and issue a refund voucher. For a Korea reverse vending machine location foreigners can rely on, check large branches of E-Mart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart, plus some city recycling centers and subway stations in Seoul.

These machines mainly accept PET bottles and cans for recycling points, but a growing number also handle deposit glass bottles. You insert the container, the machine scans the barcode, and it issues a voucher or loads points onto a card or app.

Machine coverage is still uneven. Outside big cities, you will usually rely on staffed store returns instead. The Korea Resources Circulation Service Agency and local governments publish machine maps, and the Ministry of Environment links to regional recycling programs. When in doubt, the manned counter at any convenience store is the reliable fallback.

What is the 빈용기 보증금 refund process step by step?

The 빈용기 보증금 refund process is short. Collect your empty glass bottles, keep them unbroken, carry them to any store that sells that drink, and ask for the deposit refund. The clerk checks the deposit mark and pays you in cash. Broken bottles are refused because they cannot be reused, so handle them with care.

Follow these steps:

1. Save your empty soju and beer bottles instead of tossing them into glass recycling.
2. Check each label for the printed deposit mark and amount.
3. Keep the bottles whole and reasonably clean. Remove obvious trash inside.
4. Take up to 30 bottles per store per day to any shop selling that drink.
5. Ask the clerk for the bojeunggeum (deposit) refund and receive cash.

For legal detail on the deposit rules, MOLEG hosts the English statute, and Government24 explains related civil services. Saving bottles for a month before returning them is normal and turns a chore into a small, steady refund. Korea cost of living saving tips