📈 Understanding Korean Proficiency Levels & TOPIK Alignment

Visiting Korea and planning to shop? 🎁 Learn these basic Korean shopping expressions to ask prices, sizes, and more like a local!

• 🛒 Most Popular Shopping Places for Foreigners (2025)
• 🧾 Top 5 Items Foreigners Love to Buy in Korea
• 🎁 Best Souvenirs to Take Home
• 💬 Useful Shopping Phrases
• 📦 Example Sentences
• 🎭 Practice Dialogue
• 💡 Did You Know?
• 💬 Final Thoughts
• 🔗 Related Posts

🛒 Most Popular Shopping Places for Foreigners (2025)

According to the 2025 Korea Tourism Organization report and social media trends, here are the top 5 shopping spots among international travelers:

1. 명동 (Myeongdong): Fashion, skincare, cosmetics
2. 동대문 (Dongdaemun): 24-hour wholesale markets and trendy clothing
3. 홍대 (Hongdae): Independent designer shops and youth fashion
4. 코엑스몰 (COEX Mall): Large underground shopping complex with global brands
5. 성수동 올리브영 (Olive Young, Seongsu): Trendy flagship store with viral K-beauty products and influencer picks

🧾 Top 5 Items Foreigners Love to Buy in Korea

1. K-Beauty Products: Face masks, serums, toners
2. Skincare Tools: Jade rollers, cleansing brushes
3. K-Pop Merchandise: Albums, photo cards, light sticks
4. Trendy Clothing: Korean-style streetwear and accessories
5. Korean Snacks: Honey butter chips, Choco Pie, tteokbokki ramen

🎁 Best Souvenirs to Take Home

1. Traditional Fans (부채): Beautiful designs and easy to carry
2. 한글 Name Stamps: Personalized Korean seal (도장)
3. Jeju Skincare Products: Natural ingredients from Jeju Island
4. Hanji (Korean Paper) Items: Notebooks, bookmarks, lamps
5. Soju / Makgeolli: Korea’s traditional alcoholic drinks (check customs regulations!)

💬 Useful Shopping Phrases

• 얼마예요?
  eolmayeyo?
  How much is it?


• 이거 있어요?
  igeo isseoyo?
  Do you have this?


• 다른 색 있어요?
  dareun saek isseoyo?
  Do you have another color?


• 더 큰 사이즈 있어요?
  deo keun saijeu isseoyo?
  Do you have a bigger size?


• 카드 돼요?
  kadeu dwaeyo?
  Can I use a card?

📦 Example Sentences

• 이거 얼마예요?
  igeo eolmayeyo?
  How much is this?


• 이 신발 240 사이즈 있어요?
  i sinbal i-baek-sasip saijeu isseoyo?
  Do you have these shoes in size 240?


• 현금으로 할게요.
  hyeongeumeuro halgeyo
  I’ll pay in cash.

🎭 Practice Dialogue

A: 이 가방 얼마예요?
i gabang eolmayeyo?
How much is this bag?

B: 45,000원이에요.
sasibo-man-wonieyo
It’s 45,000 won.

A: 다른 색 있어요?
dareun saek isseoyo?
Do you have another color?

B: 네, 검정색하고 파란색 있어요.
ne, geomjeongsaekhago paransaek isseoyo
Yes, we have black and blue.

A: 카드 돼요?
kadeu dwaeyo?
Can I use a card?

B: 네, 됩니다.
ne, doemnida
Yes, you can.

💡 Did You Know?

Many Korean stores now offer **tax refunds** for tourists! If you spend over 30,000 KRW at a participating store, you can claim your refund at the airport—or even instantly at the counter! Also, places like Olive Young in Seongsu have QR codes for auto-translation and English-speaking staff. ✨

💬 Final Thoughts

Shopping in Korea is not just fun—it’s also a great way to practice real Korean! Start with simple phrases like “얼마예요?” and explore the markets, malls, and beauty stores.

I hope that while reading various posts on my blog, you’ll learn Korean and grow to love Korea. As a Korean, I sincerely wish for that. Please come back anytime to discover new expressions and cultural insights!

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