Skip the Souvenir Shops—Go HERE in Korea! 🛍️
Korea isn’t just about delicious food and beautiful palaces—it’s also a shopping paradise!
Whether you're into skincare, K-pop, snacks, or cute souvenirs, this list has you covered.
Here are 6 places every tourist should check out for the ultimate Korean shopping experience.
1. 🧴 Olive Young (올리브영)
Korea’s #1 health & beauty store
A must-visit if you're into skincare and K-beauty trends. From pimple patches to face masks to wellness snacks, they’ve got everything in one place.
🔎 Best buys:
- Sheet masks, serums, Cica creams, hair treatments
- Diet jellies, multivitamin gummies, sun sticks
📍 Locations: Found everywhere, but the Myeongdong Flagship, Gangnam, and Hongdae stores are the biggest.
💡 Pro tip: Watch out for “1+1” deals and tax-free options for tourists!
2. 🏪 Daiso Korea (다이소)
Affordable and seriously fun
Daiso is a treasure chest of cheap and cute finds—especially popular with tourists looking for gifts under $5.
🔎 Best buys:
- Travel items, face masks, Korean character goods (like Kakao Friends), stationery, skincare tools
📍 Best Locations: Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, Dongdaemun
💡 Most items range from ₩1,000–₩5,000 (~$1–$4)!
3. 🛒 Lotte Mart / Emart / Homeplus
Supermarkets with everything
Korean supermarkets are more than just food—they're souvenir heaven. You’ll find bulk snacks, beauty products, and ready-to-eat gifts to take home.
🔎 Best buys:
- Spicy ramen (like Buldak), honey butter almonds, banana milk, roasted seaweed, instant tteokbokki
📍 Best locations:
- Lotte Mart at Seoul Station
- Emart at Yongsan I’Park Mall
💡 Many big stores have packaging stations and offer tourist tax refunds.
4. ✈️ Incheon Airport Duty-Free
Last-minute but luxury
Don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase for duty-free goodies at Incheon Airport. Some of the best deals on beauty, snacks, and luxury goods are right before your flight.
🔎 Best buys:
- Ginseng gift sets, beauty bundles, perfumes, K-pop albums, chocolates
📍 Terminals 1 & 2 after security
💡 Pre-order online through Shilla, Lotte, or Hyundai Duty Free for extra discounts.
5. 🎵 K-pop & Merch Stores
A dream for music fans
If you're into K-pop, there are special stores just for you! Expect shelves filled with albums, photocards, lightsticks, and limited-edition goods.
🔎 Best buys:
- BTS, BLACKPINK, NewJeans merch
- Albums with posters, keychains, and limited fan gifts
📍 Where to go:
- KTown4U Coex (Myeongdong)
- Music Korea (Hongdae)
- Underground shopping areas in Gangnam or Myeongdong
- 🔗more info
6. 🎎 Insadong & Namdaemun Markets
For traditional Korean vibes
Want to take home something truly Korean? Explore these markets for beautiful crafts, souvenirs, and even street snacks.
🔎 Best buys:
- Korean tea, calligraphy sets, chopsticks, folding fans, hand mirrors, mini hanboks
📍 Insadong-gil Street (near Anguk Station)
🔗more info
📍 Namdaemun Market (near Hoehyeon Station) :
🔗more info
💡 Some shops accept cards, but cash is handy—especially if you want to bargain a bit!
🧳 Shopping Tips for Visitors
- Tax refunds available if you spend over ₩30,000 (around $25) at eligible stores
- Bring a foldable bag—you’ll end up buying more than you planned 😉
- 1+1 deals (Buy 1 Get 1 Free) are common at Olive Young and Daiso
- Shipping available at some supermarkets and duty-free shops
Ready to shop like a local?
Save this list and make the most of your Korean shopping adventure.
If you’ve got any hidden gems or favorite stores to share, leave a comment!
📍 Visit Korea Snap Guide
• Discover Korea’s top coastal destinations, beach cafés, K-drama filming spots, and more.
👉 koreasnapguide.com