Top 10 Things Foreigners Buy in Korea (And Where to Get Them)
🎯 10 Things Foreigners Love to Buy in Korea — Shop Like a Local (TOPIK 2–4)
“What should I buy in Korea?” If you’ve ever searched this before a trip, you’re not alone. Today, let’s walk through the top 10 things foreigners love to buy in Korea and learn the Korean words you’ll actually see in shops and markets.
🎯 Learning Goal
- Learn 10 popular items foreigners buy in Korea (K-beauty, snacks, K-pop goods, and more).
- Pick up essential Korean shopping vocabulary and expressions you can use immediately.
- Understand where locals and tourists really shop (Olive Young, markets, duty-free, etc.).
Quick question for you: Which of these sounds most exciting to you right now — K-beauty? snacks? or K-pop goods? Keep your choice in mind as we go through the list and see if it changes!
📑 Table of Contents (tap)
✨ Key Vocabulary & Top 10 Shopping Items
First, here are some core shopping words you’ll see while walking around Korea:
- 화장품 – hwajangpum – cosmetics
- 기념품 – ginyeompum – souvenir
- 전통 공예품 – jeontong gongyepum – traditional crafts
- 간식 – gansik – snacks
- 건강식품 – geongang-sikpum – health supplements
- 전자제품 – jeonja-jeopum – electronics
Now, let’s go through the Top 10 Things Foreigners Buy in Korea, with simple “Why?” and “Where?” notes so you can plan your own shopping route.
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🧴 1. K-Beauty Products (화장품)
Why? High-quality skincare, innovative ingredients, and reasonable prices. Many visitors stock up on toners, serums, cushions, and sheet masks.
Where to buy: Olive Young branches in Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, Jeju; duty-free stores (Lotte, Shilla); and major airport shops.
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👗 2. Korean Fashion: Clothing & Accessories
Why? Trendy, K-pop and K-drama inspired looks that you can’t easily find back home. From oversized coats to cute hair clips, Korea is a fashion playground.
Where to buy: Street shops in Hongdae, Dongdaemun wholesale buildings, and Namdaemun for bags and leather goods.
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🍜 3. Instant Korean Food & Snacks (라면, 떡볶이, 김)
Why? Korean ramen, tteokbokki kits, and roasted seaweed make perfect gifts and late-night snacks.
Where to buy: Large supermarkets like E-Mart, Lotte Mart, and convenience stores such as CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven.
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🌿 4. Ginseng & Health Supplements (인삼, 홍삼, 건강식품)
Why? A popular “premium” gift for parents or older relatives, especially among visitors from China, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.
Where to buy: Jegidong Ginseng Market in Seoul, Korean traditional pharmacies (한의원), and duty-free shops.
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🕶️ 5. Eyeglasses & Sunglasses (안경, 선글라스)
Why? You can get a vision check, frames, and lenses all in one place, often at very competitive prices compared to many countries.
Where to buy: Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, and neighborhood optical shops (안경원).
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🧦 6. Cute Socks (양말)
Why? Cheap, comfortable, and full of cute or funny designs—K-pop idols, characters, and Korean words.
Where to buy: Street stands in Myeongdong and Hongdae, Namdaemun Market, and underground shopping centers.
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🎤 7. K-pop Merchandise
Why? Global fans love albums, photo cards, light sticks, slogan banners, and season’s greetings sets from their favorite groups.
Where to buy: Dedicated K-pop shops in Hongdae and Myeongdong, official SM/YG/JYP stores, and temporary pop-up stores during comebacks.
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🎎 8. Traditional Crafts & Souvenirs (전통 기념품)
Why? Beautiful cultural gifts such as 보자기 (bojagi wrapping cloths), 한지 paper crafts, pottery, and hand fans.
Where to buy: Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, and traditional markets like Gwangjang Market.
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💻 9. Electronics & Accessories (전자제품, 악세서리)
Why? Korea is home to major tech brands. Phone cases, keyboards, PC parts, and K-design accessories can sometimes be cheaper or more stylish than overseas options.
Where to buy: Yongsan Electronics Market, Tech-focused online malls, and brand stores in major shopping districts.
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🍶 10. Traditional Alcohol (Soju & Makgeolli / 소주, 막걸리)
Why? Many visitors want to bring home Korea’s most famous drinks, from classic green-bottle soju to flavored soju and craft makgeolli.
Where to buy: Supermarkets, duty-free shops, and specialty stores for traditional alcohol. (Always check your country’s customs rules!)
Mini reflection: If you had to choose only two items from this list, which ones would you pack in your suitcase first?
💬 Useful Expressions
Here are practical expressions you can use in Olive Young, markets, or K-pop shops. Try reading them out loud!
- 이거 얼마예요? – igeo eolmayeyo? – How much is this?
- 조금 더 싼 거 있어요? – jogeum deo ssan geo isseoyo? – Do you have anything a little cheaper?
- 다른 색도 있어요? – dareun saekdo isseoyo? – Do you have another color?
- 면세 가능합니다? – myeonse ganeunghamnida? – Is tax-free available?
- 포장해 주세요. – pojanghae juseyo. – Please wrap it for me.
- 선물용이에요. – seonmul-yong-ieyo. – It’s for a gift.
- 카드로 계산할게요. – kadeuro gyesanhalgeyo. – I’ll pay by card.
Tip: In busy areas like Myeongdong, many staff can speak some English or Chinese, but even one Korean phrase makes the interaction warmer. 😊
🗣 Practice Dialogue
Situation: You’re buying K-beauty products and cute socks in Myeongdong.
A (Shop staff): 어서 오세요. 뭐 찾으세요?
Eoseo oseyo. Mwo chajeuseyo?
Welcome! What are you looking for?
B (You): 추천해 주세요. 외국인에게 인기 있는 화장품 뭐예요?
Chucheonhae juseyo. Oegugin-ege ingi inneun hwajangpum mwoyeyo?
Please recommend something. Which cosmetics are popular with foreigners?
A: 이 세럼이 제일 잘 나가요. 민감성 피부에도 좋아요.
I sereomi jeil jal nagayo. Mingamseong pibuedo joayo.
This serum is our best seller. It’s good even for sensitive skin.
B: 그럼 이거 하나랑 마스크팩 두 개 주세요.
Geureom igeo hanarang maseukeupaek du ge juseyo.
Then please give me one of these and two sheet mask packs.
A: 네, 그리고 양말도 세 켤레에 5,000원이에요. 보시겠어요?
Ne, geurigo yangmaldo se kyeolree o-cheonwon-ieyo. Bosigesseoyo?
Sure, and the socks are 5,000 won for three pairs. Would you like to take a look?
B: 좋아요! K-pop 캐릭터 있는 양말 있어요?
Joayo! Keipap kaeriktee inneun yangmal isseoyo?
Sounds good! Do you have socks with K-pop characters?
A: 여기 있어요. 이거 외국인 손님들한테 정말 인기 많아요.
Yeogi isseoyo. Igeo oegugin sonnimdeulhante jeongmal ingi manayo.
Here they are. These are very popular with foreign customers.
B: 그럼 양말도 세 켤레 주세요. 카드로 계산할게요.
Geureom yangmaldo se kyeolre juseyo. Kadeuro gyesanhalgeyo.
Then I’ll take three pairs of socks too. I’ll pay by card.
📝 Quick Quiz
Check your understanding with a quick quiz.
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Which Korean word means souvenir?
① 간식 ② 전통 공예품 ③ 기념품 ④ 건강식품 -
How do you say “Is tax-free available?” in Korean?
Write the sentence in Korean:
→ ______________________________________ -
You want to buy ginseng for your parents.
Which area in Seoul is famous for ginseng shops?
① 홍대 ② 명동 ③ 제기동 ④ 용산
Show Answers
1) ③ 기념품 (ginyeompum)
2) 면세 가능합니다? – myeonse ganeunghamnida?
3) ③ 제기동 (Jegidong Ginseng Market)
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tips
- In markets like Namdaemun, it’s okay to ask, “조금 깎아 주세요.” (jogeum kkakka juseyo – Please give me a small discount).
- In big brand shops (Olive Young, duty-free), bargaining is not common, so focus on membership discounts and events instead.
- If you feel shy, memorize just two key lines: 이거 얼마예요? (How much is this?) and 포장해 주세요. (Please wrap it.) You can already shop quite smoothly with these.
- Take photos of product names and prices in Korean. Later, you can use them as mini vocabulary flashcards.
🌀 Say What? Trendy Shopping Slang
When Koreans talk about shopping, you may hear some fun slang words:
- 득템 – deuktem – “a great find / lucky buy” (from “득 + item”)
예: 오늘 완전 득템했어요!
Oneul wanjeon deuktemhaesseoyo! – I totally scored today! - 가성비 – gaseongbi – value for money (price vs. performance)
예: 이 마스크팩 가성비 진짜 좋아요.
I maseukeupaek gaseongbi jinjja joayo. – These sheet masks are really good value. - 플렉스하다 – peullekseu-hada – to “flex,” to spend money in a showy way
예: 한국 와서 K-pop 굿즈 플렉스했어요.
Hanguk waseo keipap gutjeu peullekseuhaesseoyo. – I came to Korea and flexed on K-pop merch.
Next time you post your shopping haul on Instagram, try using 득템 or 가성비 in your caption. 😉
📌 Did You Know? Who Buys What
According to recent tourism reports, beauty, fashion, and food items are consistently at the top of foreign tourists’ shopping lists in Korea. Here are some common patterns:
- China, Thailand, Vietnam: ginseng, red ginseng products, K-beauty cosmetics, seaweed snacks
- Japan: cute socks, character goods, traditional crafts, small accessories
- USA & Canada: K-pop albums and light sticks, health products, tech gadgets, unique street-style fashion
If you visit places like Myeongdong or Hongdae, you’ll hear multiple languages around you—but everyone is still lining up at the same famous shops!
✍️ It’s Your Turn
- Choose two items from the Top 10 list and write sentences like:
예: 한국에서 _____ 이/가 정말 싸요.
Hangugeseo _____-i/ga jeongmal ssayo. - Write a short “shopping plan” in English + a little Korean. For example, where you want to go (명동, 홍대, 인사동) and what you want to buy.
- Share one question you still have about shopping in Korea (tax-free, sizes, markets, etc.). I might turn it into a future blog lesson.
✨ If you’d like, leave your sentences in the comments—I’d love to check them and give you feedback.
🧾 Final Thoughts
Shopping in Korea isn’t just about buying things—it’s a fun way to touch real everyday culture, from beauty routines to snacks, from K-pop fandom to traditional crafts.
Before you close this page, ask yourself: If I visited Korea tomorrow, what is the first thing I would buy and why? Your answer can help you decide what vocabulary to learn next and which neighborhoods to explore on your trip.
Come back to this list whenever you need ideas for gifts, “득템,” or just a little Korean shopping daydream. 🛍️
Want personalized Korean coaching?
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Tags: Korean shopping, What to buy in Korea, Korean souvenirs, K-beauty products, Korean travel tips, 한국쇼핑, 한국기념품, 올리브영, aprender coreano, compras en Corea, souvenirs coreanos
