Korea is an extremely attractive destination with a growing number of tourists from all over the world. When you come here to shop, you can easily choose any item at the modern shopping mall, or in a famous traditional market.
If you are a shopping fan, feel free to save the below shopping experience immediately that AMC Travel offer to you before your journey there.
1. Exchange Your Money into Korean Won
You should change money from your country to won (KRW). It is usually better to reduce exchange rate fees when you bring it to Korea. Please note the cash limit is passed through your country’s customs. If you want to shop a lot, you can bring Visa or Master Card to satisfy your shopping demand when traveling to Korea.
In addition, cash payments can be often reduced for small coins and no transaction fee if paid by cash when compared with card.
2. Understand the Selling Habit of Local People
Koreans often sell at a direct listed price, often without the habit of overcharging. However, if you shop in markets or crowded tourist areas, you can ask to pay for some unlisted or listed items but the value is also unclear with 20% - 40% lower price depending on your ability, item as well as the way you are able to observe the seller’s attitude.
When communicating, if you do not speak Korean, you should use the calculator on your phone, because most of Korean speak English is not very good.
3. Best Time to Travel in Korea for Shopping
You can go to Korea any time of the year, the strongest sales months usually take place in the end of November and December. However, please be assured that throughout the year all products there still have continuous sale campaigns.
In addition, you should keep in mind some of the following special occasions to set your schedule in advance such as the Korea Grand Sale event (from August 14 to October 31). This is a big sale program in Korea. During this time visitors will find a lot of quality items that are discounted up to 50–70%. Or on the Black Friday event many Korean brands will carry out extremely sale programs with a variety of quality and diverse items.
4. What Should Buy When Traveling to Korea
When coming to Korea, some typical items that you should buy there such as cosmetics, ginseng, electronics, clothes, traditional items, specialties …
For cosmetics, you can buy famous brands at affordable trade centers with famous brands such as Ohui, Missha, Laneige, Hera … or some popular brands such as Innisfree, The Face Shop, Nature Republic, Apieu, Karadium …
For electronics, you should go to the Yongsan electronic market in Seoul to buy. This is the largest electronics market in South Korea which offer you many best technology items.
For clothes, you should pay attention to your size and pocket before your purchase decision. In case you can only pay for normal, low-cost items, Chinese-made clothes, produced under the Korean manufacturers’ orders, with pretty colors and designs that will fit. If you have a lot of money, there will be many items made in Korea but not very well-known brands with reasonable prices, beautiful fabrics. And, as a rich man, you should pay attention to the face of fashion brands, because this person will almost guarantee the quality of the brand of clothes for you.
Besides, there are many other items in Korea that can be bought as gifts for friends and relatives such as Soju wine, Korean pear, tea …
5. What Should Not Buy When Traveling to Korea
Although it is a shopping paradise with many diverse items, you should also pay attention to choose the appropriate products there. Two important factors are the origin and the cost of goods.
If you do not clearly see the label or origin of the product, it is also limited to buy because you may buy the poor quality, fake goods. Or those products do not have a reputable brand but the price is too high, and you should definitely consider it.
6. Request for Tax Refund or Tax Free When Shopping
Most brand stores and shopping centers in Korea can provide you with a paper with transaction information to get a tax refund at the airport after you went shopping there.
To get a refund, the order you pay must have a total value of at least 30,000 won. On the bill you will see that they write a value-added tax (VAT) of 10%, but you will not be paid the full 10%. As a rule, the refund tax will depend on the type of item and is calculated according to progressive tax tables.
When paying at these locations, remember to ask the cashier that you want Tax Refund or Tax Free at the airport. In addition to the normal bill, they will print you an invoice-like paper called Tax Refund Sheet and put it in an envelope for you. On the envelope there will be instructions on the airport tax refund procedure. At the airport before you leave, there are many automatic Tax Refund machines, then just scan the barcode, passport and tax is possible to be refunded.
7. Some Popular Places to Shop in Korea
You can buy anything from Korea’s clothes, cosmetics, shoes, handicrafts … on the street, in the truck or at the supermarkets and commercial centers from low cut-price to expensive with branded items, just visit to the prestigious Myeong-dong (Seoul), the almost 24/24 operating market of Namdaemun (Seoul), Chungjangro Street (Seoul), Mugeo-Dong (Ulsan) Street …
AMC Travel hopes that some shared tips there will bring to you the useful shopping experience in Korea. Your information can help you confidence to freely relax when go down street with excited eyes to spend money. Please take note and don’t forget to save a lot of money for your wallet.
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