Marriott Bonvoy has a partnership with Shinsegae Duty Free, one of South Korea’s major travel retailers. For those planning a trip to Seoul or transiting through Incheon, the partnership offers reciprocal status matching and point accumulation.
There is currently a promotional offer for linking accounts that expires on December 31, 2025. Here is a breakdown of the deal and how the ongoing benefits work.
The Offer (Ends December 31)
If you link your accounts before the end of the year, there are two one-time incentives attached:
- Shopping Vouchers: Users receive up to ₩215,000 (approx. $155 USD) in digital coupons. These are tiered, meaning you generally have to spend a certain amount to unlock each discount tranche.
- Bonus Points: New members joining Marriott Bonvoy via this link receive an additional 5,000 Shinsegae points.
You can view and sign-up for the offer on the promotion page here
The Status Match
For most existing Bonvoy members, the primary value here is the immediate status match into the Shinsegae program, which provides discounts of 5% to 20% on retail goods depending on the brand.
- Marriott Gold Elite → Matches to Shinsegae BLACK
- Marriott Platinum, Titanium, & Ambassador → Matches to Shinsegae VIP
- Shinsegae BLACK/VIP → Matches to Marriott Silver Elite
Note: The match is useful for the retail discounts, but Marriott Silver status itself offers limited practical benefits at hotels.
Earning Rates & Caps
Once accounts are linked, you earn Marriott Bonvoy points on duty-free purchases at Shinsegae’s online store and physical locations (Myeongdong, Incheon Airport T1/T2).
- Rate: Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per ₩1,000 spent (roughly $0.70 USD).
- The Cap: There is a monthly earning cap of 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.
- Fulfillment: Points credit approximately 30 days after you physically pick up the merchandise.
Is It Worth It?
The earning rate is decent, but the low monthly cap (1,000 points) limits the upside for big spenders. However, if you are holding Marriott Gold status or higher, the status match takes only a few seconds and could save you money on duty-free shopping if you have upcoming travel to Korea.
How to Link
- Go to the partnership page.
- Log in to both accounts.
- The status match should reflect immediately.
- Crucial Step: You must opt-in via the Shinsegae settings (My Page > Affiliate Mileage) to ensure points are credited to Marriott.
