Checked August 17, 2026. Store policies, prices and hours can change, so verify the linked official page before ordering or visiting.
Short answer: OLIVE YOUNG US and OLIVE YOUNG Global are now separate stores. If your delivery address is in the United States, use the US store. Global stopped accepting US shipping orders in May 2026. The US store has its own catalog, promotions, shipping terms and two Los Angeles-area locations.
OLIVE YOUNG US vs Global at a glance
Question
US store
Global store
Who should use it?
Customers shipping to a US address
International customers outside the US, subject to the country list
Same account/cart?
No. Treat it as a separate storefront.
No. Prices, points and promotions may differ.
US delivery
Yes
No longer available
Physical stores
Pasadena and Century City
Online international store
Official page screenshot; checked August 17, 2026. Click the source link in the text for the current version.
Official OLIVE YOUNG help page captured August 17, 2026. It confirms that the two sites are separate and Global no longer ships to the US.
Which site should you use?
Shipping to a US home, hotel or forwarding address: start at the US store.
Shipping to another country: check whether Global supports that destination.
Visiting Los Angeles: compare the online US price with the two stores below. A store visit can avoid delivery timing, but stock varies.
A product appears only on one site: do not assume the other storefront can fulfill it. Search the exact product and shade on the destination-appropriate site.
Local shopping rule: compare the final checkout total, not the banner discount. A lower item price can disappear after shipping, tax or an ineligible promotion.
US shipping and price differences
OLIVE YOUNG US advertised free standard shipping on orders of $35 or more from June 30 through December 31, 2026. That is a time-limited event, not a permanent promise. Check the current banner and checkout before paying. US prices can also differ from Korean or Global prices because the catalog, supply chain, promotions and local rules differ.
For sunscreen in particular, the same brand name does not guarantee the same US and Korean formula. Use our Korean vs US sunscreen label guide before buying.
Where are the OLIVE YOUNG US stores?
Official page screenshot; checked August 17, 2026. Click the source link in the text for the current version.
Official store addresses captured August 17, 2026.
Pasadena
58 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105. Official hours listed on August 17: Mon–Thu 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri–Sat 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Century City
10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Store #2897, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Official hours listed on August 17: Mon–Thu 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Before you order: a 60-second checklist
Confirm you are on the US domain, not the Global storefront.
Search the exact product name, size and shade.
Read the ingredients and Drug Facts panel where applicable.
Check the shipping threshold, estimated arrival and return restrictions.
Save the order confirmation and photograph damaged parcels before opening further.
FAQ
Can OLIVE YOUNG Global still ship to the US?
No. OLIVE YOUNG's official help page says US shipping on Global ended in May 2026; use OLIVE YOUNG US.
Are US and Global prices identical?
No. Catalogs, promotions, points and final checkout totals may differ.
Can I use my Global account on the US site?
Treat the stores as separate. If the site asks you to register again, that is expected rather than evidence of a fake page.
Which store should a tourist visit?
Choose based on your itinerary. Pasadena is useful if you are in Old Pasadena; Century City suits a Westside itinerary. Check hours and live stock before making a special trip.
NAVER added passport-based identity verification for foreign visitors in June 2026.
Short answer: You can use NAVER Map for search and directions without a Korean phone number. Since June 4, 2026, travelers with a non-Korean passport may also be offered Passport Verification when a NAVER booking, order, or payment requires identity confirmation. It removes one major barrier, but it does not guarantee that every restaurant, queue, or foreign card will work.
Local takeaway
Install NAVER Map before your trip and use it freely for navigation. Create a NAVER account only if you want saved places or reservations. If a booking asks for Korean mobile verification, look for the passport option; if it is missing, use the backups in this guide instead of repeatedly restarting the same screen.
What changed for foreign travelers in 2026?
NAVER announced that Passport Verification launched on June 4, 2026. A traveler who cannot complete Korean mobile-phone verification can use an eligible foreign passport and a smartphone camera to confirm identity. NAVER says the verified account can access supported travel-related booking, ordering, and payment services, including services reached through NAVER Map.
This is important because the old advice—“NAVER reservations always require a Korean phone number”—is no longer universally correct. The opposite claim is also too broad: the passport feature is being expanded in phases, and each business still controls its own reservation, deposit, queue, and payment conditions.
Official passport and face-verification flow. Source: NAVER Corp.
Works without signing in. Korean place names or road addresses are usually most reliable.
Walking and public-transit directions
No
Check the correct branch, station exit, and final walking section.
Save places and manage bookings
Account may be needed
A NAVER account is separate from passport verification.
Book or order through NAVER
Not always
Passport verification may replace Korean mobile verification for supported services.
Pay a deposit
Varies
Identity verification and card acceptance are different checks. A foreign card can still be rejected.
Join every restaurant waitlist
Varies
Some shops use a separate kiosk, local SMS, phone call, or another platform.
How NAVER passport verification works
The exact button location can differ by app version and service. In practice, start the booking or order you actually want; when NAVER requests identity verification, choose the foreign-passport route if it appears.
Create or sign in to your NAVER account. Enter your legal name and date of birth exactly as they appear on the passport you will use.
Open the eligible booking or order. In NAVER Map, find the venue and tap the booking or order option shown on its place page.
Select Passport Verification when prompted. If the screen offers only Korean mobile or i-PIN verification, do not assume a random Korean number will solve it; check the troubleshooting section below.
Photograph the original passport live. NAVER’s help page says an uploaded gallery image is not enough. Camera permission must be enabled.
Complete the facial match. Fit your full face inside the frame and follow the movement prompts.
Return to the booking. Review the date, branch, party size, cancellation rule, and any deposit before confirming.
Eligible passport checklist
Issued by a country other than the Republic of Korea
Not expired
Not already used to verify another NAVER ID
Name and date of birth match the NAVER account details
Why passport verification fails—or never appears
1. Your account details do not match the passport
Spacing, a missing middle name, reversed name order, or a different date format can cause a mismatch. Use the legal identity details requested by NAVER, not a nickname. If your existing account was created with inconsistent information, NAVER customer support may be safer than opening multiple new IDs.
2. The camera cannot read the document
Use the original passport on a flat, dark surface. Avoid glare across the photo page, keep all edges visible, and move to bright indirect light. Enable camera permission for the NAVER app or browser before starting again.
3. The service is not yet in the supported flow
NAVER says support is expanding in phases. A Book button on a place page does not prove that the entire path—identity, deposit, and confirmation—accepts foreign users. Screens can also differ between NAVER Map, the main NAVER app, and a mobile web page.
4. Verification worked, but payment did not
A verified identity does not turn every foreign Visa or Mastercard into a Korean card. The venue or payment processor may still limit card type, billing address, or deposit method. Look for a pay-at-venue option; otherwise use a foreigner-facing booking platform or ask your hotel.
5. You are trying to solve a phone-only reservation
Passport verification applies to supported NAVER services. It cannot convert a restaurant that accepts reservations only by phone into an online booking. Hotel staff commonly make a simple call for guests; Instagram direct messages and walk-ins before the dinner rush are other practical options.
The workflow I would use as a local
A NAVER Map place page may show Book, Pickup, menu, hours, and branch details. Source: NAVER Map service page.
Search the Korean name or road address. English spellings can point to the wrong branch. Cross-check the district, nearest station, photos, and floor number.
Read the newest operating-hours notice. NAVER place pages may show a temporary closure or break time that does not appear on an older English listing.
Try the native booking button once. If passport verification appears, complete it with matching account details.
Check the final payment screen. Do not assume that “verified” means your card will be accepted.
Save proof. Screenshot the Korean venue name, address, booking number, date, time, party size, and cancellation rule.
Keep one fallback. Catchtable Global works for some restaurants; hotel concierge, Instagram, and an early walk-in cover many others.
A Korean phone number: still useful for local SMS waitlists, delivery calls, account recovery, and services outside NAVER.
A working data connection: navigation, verification, and booking all need stable internet.
A payment backup: carry a physical international card and some cash even after a booking succeeds.
Branch checking: Seoul chains often have several locations with nearly identical English names.
FAQ
Can I use NAVER Map without creating an account?
Yes. Basic place search and directions work without a NAVER account or Korean number. An account becomes relevant for saved places, bookings, orders, reviews, and other personalized functions.
Does passport verification work before I arrive in Korea?
NAVER describes smartphone-based verification and does not state that you must have a Korean mobile number. Availability can depend on the service flow and current app version, so test it before a time-sensitive reservation but keep a backup.
Will any foreign passport work?
Officially, it must be an unexpired passport issued outside South Korea, unused for another NAVER ID, with account name and birth date that match. Individual verification can still fail and may require customer support.
Does it guarantee restaurant reservations and payments?
No. It verifies identity for supported NAVER services. The restaurant may not use NAVER Booking, the chosen slot may be unavailable, or the deposit processor may not accept your foreign card.
What should I do if only Korean phone verification appears?
Update NAVER Map and the main NAVER app, check that you are signed into the intended account, and open the official passport-verification help page. If the option still does not appear, contact NAVER support or use Catchtable Global, hotel staff, Instagram, or a walk-in rather than entering someone else’s identity details.
Bottom line
NAVER Map is useful even with no Korean phone number, and the 2026 passport feature makes some previously blocked reservations and orders possible. Treat it as a new identity-verification route—not as a universal pass through every Korean booking and payment system. Set up the account carefully, confirm the exact branch, and keep one realistic fallback.
Local answer: For a short Seoul-only trip with four or more eligible rides on a busy sightseeing day, the Climate Card is often the easier choice. If you are visiting Incheon, Suwon, Busan, or using the Shinbundang Line, keep a regular T-money card because the Climate Card does not cover every route.
A local rule: choose by route coverage first, then compare the price.
My 30-second recommendation • Seoul only + packed itinerary: Climate Card. • Seoul plus day trips or another city: T-money. • Not sure yet: Buy T-money first. It works in more places and has no time limit. • Landing at Incheon Airport: Do not assume the Climate Card covers the trip into Seoul. You may use it to exit at Incheon Airport after boarding within its Seoul service area, but you cannot board with it at Airport T1 or T2.
T-money vs Climate Card: the real difference
Traveler question
T-money
Climate Card short-term pass
How you pay
Stored balance; fare is deducted each ride
Unlimited eligible rides for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days
Best for
Flexible routes, day trips, multi-city travel, fewer rides
Frequent Seoul subway and Seoul-licensed bus rides
Outside Seoul
Widely accepted on major public transport networks
Limited to the official service area
Airport trip
Works on the AREX all-stop train when balance is sufficient
Cannot board at Incheon Airport T1/T2; special exit-only rule applies from the covered area
Foreign card
Regular reload options vary; cash remains the dependable backup
International cards accepted at 440 new machines in 273 Lines 1–8 stations; about 3.7% service fee
Physical card
Commonly sold separately; price depends on design/store
KRW 3,000, then load the pass
2026 Climate Card tourist prices
Pass
Price
Rough daily target
1 day
KRW 5,000
A very busy Seoul day
2 days
KRW 8,000
Several rides both days
3 days
KRW 10,000
Usually the easiest tourist break-even
5 days
KRW 15,000
Good for a Seoul-centered stay
7 days
KRW 20,000
Best when most days remain in Seoul
Important: The physical Climate Card costs KRW 3,000 separately. A short-term pass starts on the day you load it and cannot be loaded in advance. If you load a 1-day pass at 8 p.m., it still expires after the final service that same calendar day—not 24 hours later.
The break-even test I use for visiting friends
A normal short urban ride is often around the mid-KRW 1,000 range, but the actual fare changes by transport type and distance. Instead of pretending there is one perfect ride count, use this quick test:
Write down every subway or bus leg for the pass period. A transfer is not automatically a new paid ride.
Cross out the routes the Climate Card excludes.
Add the ordinary T-money fares for the remaining eligible legs.
Compare that total with the pass price plus KRW 3,000 if you still need the physical card.
Realistic example: A first-time visitor staying in Myeongdong who makes hotel → Gyeongbokgung → Seongsu → Hongdae → hotel may tap several times in one day. A three-day pass can make sense if that pattern repeats. A traveler doing Seoul → Suwon on day two and Seoul → Busan on day three is usually better served by T-money for local rides and separate rail tickets.
Routes that catch tourists out
Shinbundang Line: excluded from the Climate Card.
Non-Seoul buses and intercity/airport buses: excluded.
Subway exit outside the covered area: you may need to pay the fare from your boarding station at the gate office.
Incheon Airport: you can exit at T1/T2 after boarding inside the covered area, but cannot begin the trip there with the Climate Card.
Busan, Gyeongju, Jeju, Suwon day trips: keep T-money or the appropriate local/rail ticket.
Coverage can change. Before buying, check the official Seoul service-range map for the exact station where you will exit.
How to buy and load the Climate Card in 2026
Find a new vending machine inside a Seoul Metro Lines 1–8 station, or an authorized nearby seller.
Buy the physical card for KRW 3,000 if you do not already have one.
Select the short-term pass that matches your actual Seoul days.
Pay at a supported machine. Since March 17, 2026, international Visa/Mastercard and supported mobile payments are accepted at 440 new machines in 273 stations on Lines 1–8. International-card payments carry an average fee of about 3.7%.
Tap both when entering and leaving. Two missed exit taps can suspend use for 24 hours.
Local backup: Keep a small amount of Korean cash and a regular T-money card if your itinerary includes uncertain routes. Do not wait until a busy gate to discover that a pass or foreign card is not accepted.
Which one should you buy?
Choose T-money if…
You are visiting more than one Korean city.
You have airport buses, Shinbundang, or regional routes.
You walk a lot and expect only two or three paid rides a day.
You want one simple stored-value card with no consecutive-day deadline.
Choose the Climate Card if…
Your hotel and major stops are inside the official Seoul service area.
You plan a dense sightseeing schedule with frequent eligible rides.
You want predictable transit spending and fewer balance checks.
Your pass days are consecutive and start on the day you load it.
Buy both only if…
You have several intensive Seoul days plus one or two uncovered airport or regional trips. Use the Climate Card during the Seoul block and T-money only for the exceptions.
Traveler FAQ
Can I use the Climate Card from Incheon Airport to Seoul?
No. You cannot board the AREX at Incheon Airport T1 or T2 with the Climate Card. Use T-money, a single ticket, or the AREX Express/airport bus. The Climate Card’s special airport rule is for exiting at T1/T2 after boarding in the covered area.
Can I use T-money in Busan?
Yes, standard T-money is widely accepted on Busan public transport. The Seoul Climate Card is not a nationwide pass.
Can a foreign tourist pay by credit card?
For Climate Card short-term passes, supported new vending machines now accept international cards. Acceptance is not the same for every T-money purchase or reload point, so keep cash as backup.
Does the Climate Card cover the airport bus?
No. Intercity and airport buses are excluded.
Can I load a Climate Card before my trip begins?
Not for the short-term tourist pass. Its validity starts on the loading date, so load it on the morning of the first day you will use it.
