Shopping in Korea is an experience—from the bustling traditional markets of Namdaemun to the luxury department stores of Gangnam, and from K-beauty shops to trendy Myeongdong streets. Speaking Korean while shopping not only gets you better deals (especially at markets) but also creates more authentic connections.
This guide covers everything you need to shop confidently in Korea.
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 시장 | Sijang | Traditional market |
| 백화점 | Baekhwajeom | Department store |
| 마트 | Mateu | Supermarket/Mart |
| 편의점 | Pyeonuijeom | Convenience store |
| 쇼핑몰 | Syopingmol | Shopping mall |
| 가게 | Gage | Shop/Store |
| 상점 | Sangjeom | Store (formal) |
| 옷가게 | Otgage | Clothing store |
| 신발가게 | Sinbalgage | Shoe store |
| 화장품 가게 | Hwajangpum gage | Cosmetics store |
| 서점 | Seojom | Bookstore |
| 약국 | Yakguk | Pharmacy |
Entering a Store
Common Greetings
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 어서오세요 | Eoseo oseyo | Welcome (staff greeting) |
| 안녕하세요 | Annyeonghaseyo | Hello |
| 뭐 찾으세요? | Mwo chajeuseyo? | What are you looking for? |
| 그냥 보는 거예요 | Geunyang boneun geoyeyo | I'm just looking |
| 도움이 필요하세요? | Doumi piryohaseyo? | Do you need help? |
| 네, 도와주세요 | Ne, dowajuseyo | Yes, please help me |
Tip: Don't feel pressured to buy when staff greet you with "어서오세요" (Welcome). A simple nod is sufficient.
Asking About Products
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 이거 뭐예요? | Igeo mwoyeyo? | What is this? |
| 이거 있어요? | Igeo isseoyo? | Do you have this? |
| ...있어요? | ...isseoyo? | Do you have...? |
| 다른 색 있어요? | Dareun saek isseoyo? | Do you have other colors? |
| 다른 사이즈 있어요? | Dareun saijeu isseoyo? | Do you have other sizes? |
| 신상품이에요? | Sinsangpumieyo? | Is this a new product? |
| 인기 있는 게 뭐예요? | Ingi inneun ge mwoyeyo? | What's popular? |
Asking About Price
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 얼마예요? | Eolmayeyo? | How much is it? |
| 이거 얼마예요? | Igeo eolmayeyo? | How much is this? |
| 전부 얼마예요? | Jeonbu eolmayeyo? | How much is the total? |
| 세일이에요? | Seilieyo? | Is this on sale? |
| 할인되나요? | Halindoenayo? | Is there a discount? |
| 세금 포함이에요? | Segeum pohamieyo? | Is tax included? |
Sizes and Fitting
Size Terms
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 사이즈 | Saijeu | Size |
| 작은 것 | Jageun geot | Small |
| 중간 것 | Junggan geot | Medium |
| 큰 것 | Keun geot | Large |
| 스몰 | Seumol | Small (S) |
| 미디엄 | Midiom | Medium (M) |
| 라지 | Laji | Large (L) |
| 프리사이즈 | Peurisaijeu | Free size (one size fits all) |
Fitting Room Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 입어봐도 돼요? | Ibeobwado dwaeyo? | Can I try this on? |
| 탈의실 어디예요? | Taruisil eodiyeyo? | Where is the fitting room? |
| 이거 너무 커요 | Igeo neomu keoyo | This is too big |
| 이거 너무 작아요 | Igeo neomu jagayo | This is too small |
| 더 큰 거 있어요? | Deo keun geo isseoyo? | Do you have a bigger one? |
| 더 작은 거 있어요? | Deo jageun geo isseoyo? | Do you have a smaller one? |
| 잘 맞아요 | Jal majayo | It fits well |
| 안 맞아요 | An majayo | It doesn't fit |
Colors
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 색 | Saek | Color |
| 검정색/검은색 | Geomjeongsaek | Black |
| 흰색/하얀색 | Huinsaek | White |
| 빨간색 | Ppalgansaek | Red |
| 파란색 | Paransaek | Blue |
| 노란색 | Noransaek | Yellow |
| 초록색 | Choroksaek | Green |
| 분홍색 | Bunhongsaek | Pink |
| 보라색 | Borasaek | Purple |
| 회색 | Hoesaek | Gray |
| 갈색 | Galsaek | Brown |
| 베이지색 | Beijisaek | Beige |
| 네이비색 | Neibisaek | Navy |
Making a Purchase
Deciding to Buy
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 이거 살게요 | Igeo salgeyo | I'll buy this |
| 이거 주세요 | Igeo juseyo | Give me this, please |
| 이걸로 할게요 | Igeollo halgeyo | I'll take this one |
| 두 개 주세요 | Du gae juseyo | Give me two, please |
| 안 살게요 | An salgeyo | I won't buy it |
| 다음에 올게요 | Daeume olgeyo | I'll come back next time |
Asking About Wrapping
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 포장해 주세요 | Pojanghae juseyo | Please wrap it |
| 선물 포장해 주세요 | Seonmul pojanghae juseyo | Gift wrap, please |
| 따로따로 포장해 주세요 | Ttarottaro pojanghae juseyo | Wrap separately, please |
| 봉투 주세요 | Bongtu juseyo | Please give me a bag |
| 봉투 필요 없어요 | Bongtu piryo eopseoyo | I don't need a bag |
Payment
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 계산해 주세요 | Gyesanhae juseyo | Please ring this up |
| 카드로 할게요 | Kadeuro halgeyo | I'll pay by card |
| 현금으로 할게요 | Hyeongeumereo halgeyo | I'll pay by cash |
| 카드 돼요? | Kadeu dwaeyo? | Do you accept cards? |
| 현금만 돼요? | Hyeongeumman dwaeyo? | Cash only? |
| 삼성페이 돼요? | Samsung Pay dwaeyo? | Do you accept Samsung Pay? |
| 영수증 주세요 | Yeongsujeung juseyo | Receipt, please |
| 영수증 필요 없어요 | Yeongsujeung piryo eopseoyo | I don't need a receipt |
Bargaining at Markets
Bargaining is common at traditional markets but not at fixed-price stores.
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 너무 비싸요 | Neomu bissayo | It's too expensive |
| 좀 깎아주세요 | Jom kkakkajuseyo | Please give me a discount |
| 더 싸게 해주세요 | Deo ssage haejuseyo | Please make it cheaper |
| 만원에 안 돼요? | Manwone an dwaeyo? | Won't you do it for 10,000 won? |
| 좀 빼주세요 | Jom ppaejuseyo | Please reduce a bit |
| 두 개 사면 깎아줘요? | Du gae samyeon kkakkajwoyo? | Discount if I buy two? |
| 많이 살게요 | Mani salgeyo | I'll buy a lot |
| 마지막 가격이에요? | Majimak gagyegieyo? | Is this the final price? |
Market tip: Start by offering about 70% of the asking price and negotiate from there. Be friendly, smile, and don't be afraid to walk away!
Returns and Exchanges
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 교환하고 싶어요 | Gyohwanhago sipeoyo | I'd like to exchange this |
| 환불하고 싶어요 | Hwanbulhago sipeoyo | I'd like a refund |
| 영수증 있어요 | Yeongsujeung isseoyo | I have the receipt |
| 교환 가능해요? | Gyohwan ganeunghaeyo? | Can I exchange this? |
| 환불 가능해요? | Hwanbul ganeunghaeyo? | Can I get a refund? |
| 불량품이에요 | Bullyangpumieyo | It's defective |
| 사이즈가 안 맞아요 | Saizeuga an majayo | The size doesn't fit |
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 택스 프리 돼요? | Taekseu peuri dwaeyo? | Is tax-free available? |
| 면세 가능해요? | Myeonse ganeunghaeyo? | Is it duty-free? |
| 여권 있어요 | Yeogwon isseoyo | I have my passport |
| 외국인이에요 | Oeguginieyo | I'm a foreigner |
| 관광객이에요 | Gwangwanggaegieyo | I'm a tourist |
Korea is famous for cosmetics. Here's essential K-beauty vocabulary:
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 화장품 | Hwajangpum | Cosmetics |
| 스킨케어 | Seukinkeeo | Skincare |
| 메이크업 | Meikeuop | Makeup |
| 토너 | Toneo | Toner |
| 에센스 | Esenseu | Essence |
| 세럼 | Serom | Serum |
| 로션 | Rosyeon | Lotion |
| 크림 | Keurim | Cream |
| 선크림 | Seonkeurim | Sunscreen |
| 마스크팩 | Maseukeupaek | Sheet mask |
| 립스틱 | Ripseutik | Lipstick |
| 샘플 주세요 | Saempeul juseyo | Samples, please |
| 피부 타입이 뭐예요? | Pibu taipi mwoyeyo? | What's my skin type? |
| 지성 피부 | Jiseong pibu | Oily skin |
| 건성 피부 | Geonseong pibu | Dry skin |
| 복합성 피부 | Bokhapseong pibu | Combination skin |
| 민감성 피부 | Mingamseong pibu | Sensitive skin |
Common Store Types by Product
Fashion (패션)
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 옷 | Ot | Clothes |
| 치마 | Chima | Skirt |
| 바지 | Baji | Pants |
| 셔츠 | Syeocheu | Shirt |
| 원피스 | Wonpiseu | Dress |
| 자켓 | Jaket | Jacket |
| 코트 | Koteu | Coat |
| 신발 | Sinbal | Shoes |
| 운동화 | Undonghwa | Sneakers |
| 구두 | Gudu | Dress shoes |
| 가방 | Gabang | Bag |
Electronics (전자제품)
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|
| 핸드폰 | Haendeupon | Cell phone |
| 충전기 | Chungcheongi | Charger |
| 케이블 | Keibeul | Cable |
| 이어폰 | Ieopon | Earphones |
| 배터리 | Baeteori | Battery |
Do's
- Be polite and use "요" endings
- Greet staff when they greet you (a nod is fine)
- Return items to where you found them
- Keep your receipt for exchanges
Don'ts
- Don't bargain at department stores (fixed prices)
- Don't open sealed products without asking
- Don't eat or drink in clothing stores
- Don't be offended by direct comments about sizing
Before your trip:
While shopping:
Final Thoughts
Shopping in Korea is more fun when you can communicate. Whether you're hunting for deals at Namdaemun Market, testing the latest K-beauty at Myeongdong, or browsing Gangnam department stores, these phrases will help you shop like a local.
Don't be shy—Koreans appreciate when foreigners try to speak Korean. Your attempts will be met with smiles and maybe even better deals!
행복한 쇼핑! (Happy shopping!)
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