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Shopping Guide for Foreigners in Korea
Your complete guide to navigating Korean e-commerce, overcoming language barriers, and finding the best deals.
π Shopping Guide for Foreigners
Welcome to the comprehensive shopping guide for KoreaDeals! This guide will help you navigate Korean e-commerce and take advantage of amazing deals.
1. Getting Started
Before shopping online in Korea, prepare the following essentials:
- Korean Phone Number: Required for identity verification on most sites.
- Korean Address: Have your address ready in Korean (Road Name Address format).
- Payment Method: Check if the site accepts international cards or requires a Korean card.
- PCCC: Essential for overseas purchases. Get yours here.
Language Barrier Tips
Most Korean shopping sites are in Korean only.
- Tools: Use Chrome's "Translate this page" feature.
- Keywords: Learn basic buttons like
ꡬ맀νκΈ°(Buy),μ₯λ°κ΅¬λ(Cart),κ²°μ (Payment).
2. Best Shopping Sites for Foreigners
| Site | Difficulty | Foreign Card? | English? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupang | π’ Easy | β Yes | β Partial | Everything, Fast Delivery |
| Gmarket Global | π’ Easy | β Yes | β Yes | General Shopping |
| 11st Global | π’ Easy | β Yes | β Yes | K-Pop, Electronics |
| Naver Shopping | π‘ Medium | β Most No | β No | Price Comparison |
| SSG.com | π‘ Medium | β οΈ Limited | β No | Premium/Department Store |
3. Dealing with "ActiveX" and Security Plugins
Korean banking and shopping sites often require installing security plugins (.exe or extensions).
- Use Windows if possible: Mac support has improved but Windows is still smoothest.
- Browser: Chrome usually works well now, but keep Edge as a backup.
- Pop-ups: Always allow pop-ups for payment windows.
4. Common Buying Process
- Find Deal: Click a deal on KoreaDeals.
- Select Options: Choose color/size on the product page.
- Checkout: Click
ꡬ맀νκΈ°(Buy Now). - Login/Guest: Some sites allow "Non-member Order" (λΉνμ μ£Όλ¬Έ), but creating an account is better.
- Address: Enter your Korean address.
- Payment: Select Credit Card (General Payment) -> Your Card Company.
- Confirmation: You'll receive an order confirmation email or text.
5. Troubleshooting
- "Verification Failed": Ensure your name matches your phone carrier's record EXACTLY (e.g., LAST FIRST MIDDLE).
- Payment Error: Disable VPNs. Try a different browser.
- Can't find address: Search by Road Name (e.g., "Teheran-ro 123").