I just moved to Korea and want to start shopping online?
I just moved to Korea and want to start shopping online. What are the best platforms, and how do they compare? I keep hearing about Coupang, but are there other good options for foreigners?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Welcome to Korea! Online shopping here is incredibly convenient and fast. Here's a breakdown of the main platforms:
Coupang - The Amazon of Korea
- Rocket Delivery: order by midnight, delivered by 7am next day
- Coupang Eats for food delivery too
- App is partially in English
- Monthly Rocket WOW membership: 4,990 won for free shipping
Naver Shopping
- Price comparison across multiple sellers
- Good for finding the cheapest option
- Integrates with Naver Pay
Gmarket / 11st (11번가)
- Wide variety, lots of deals
- Gmarket has a Global Shop with English support
- Good for electronics and fashion
SSG.com
- Affiliated with Shinsegae department store
- Great for groceries and premium products
- SSG Morning delivery available
Market Kurly (마켓컬리)
- Premium groceries and organic foods
- Famous for overnight delivery (order by 11pm, delivered by 7am)
- Great for imported foods and fresh produce
Tips for foreigners
- Most apps work fine with a Korean phone number and bank card
- Naver Pay or Kakao Pay make checkout easy
- Use Papago or Google Translate for apps without English
- Convenience store pickup (CU, GS25) is available on many platforms if you're not home during delivery
- Returns are usually free and very easy in Korea