Making 100% Use of Korean Convenience Stores
In Korea, card payments are much more common than cash. At convenience stores, you can easily pay mostly by card or mobile payment, and the number of people using cash is steadily decreasing.
Additionally, a Korean convenience store is not just a place to buy things, but also a space where you can enjoy looking at a wide variety of products. Each convenience store brand sells its own private brand (PB) products, and season-limited items or collaboration products with popular characters are frequently released.
Here are some things that are great to look out for when you visit a convenience store:
- Triangle Gimbap (
) - Boxed Meals (
) - Cup Ramen (
)
Especially for drinks or snacks, ‘1+1’ or ‘2+1’ promotions are frequently held, so you can purchase them more affordably by checking the promotional product labels.
Today’s Korean
(gye-san-ha-da)
Meaning: To pay, To check out.
[Examples]
/ The number of people using self-checkout counters is increasing.
/ I paid after buying the items.
[Dialogue]
- A:
(i-geo gye-san-hae ju-se-yo) / Please check this out for me. - B:
(ne, ka-deu-ro ha-si-get-eo-yo) / Yes, would you like to pay by card?
(gu-mae-ha-da)
Meaning: To buy items, To purchase.
[Examples]
/ Purchases of souvenirs by foreign tourists are increasing.
/ I purchased a drink at the convenience store.
[Dialogue]
- A:
(mwo sat-eor-yo) / What did you buy? - B:
(pyeon-ui-jeom sam-gak-gim-bap-eul gu-mae-haet-eo-yo) / I purchased a triangle gimbap at the convenience store.
(yeong-su-jeung)
Meaning: Receipt
[Examples]
/ A receipt verification event is currently underway.
/ I received a receipt.
[Dialogue]
- A:
(yeong-su-jeung pyo-ryo-ha-se-yo) / Do you need a receipt? - B:
(ne, ju-se-yo) / Yes, please.
(haeng-sa)
Meaning: A discount or special sales event, Promotion, Sale.
[Examples]
/ Convenience store promotional drink products are gaining popularity.
/ I purchased a promotional product.
[Dialogue]
- A:
(i eum-ryo-ga wae du gae-yeo-yo) / Why are there two of this drink? - B:
(won-plus-won haeng-sa jung-i-e-yo) / It’s on a 1+1 (Buy One Get One Free) promotion.
Real-Life Conversation
- Staff:
/ Hello. - Customer: / Please check this out for me.
- Staff:
/ This is a promotional product, would you like to bring one more? - Customer:
/ Oh, yes. Thank you. - Staff: / Do you need a receipt?
- Customer: / Yes, please.
A Quick Korean Phrase [Convenience Store Edition]
(i-geo gye-san-hae ju-se-yo)
This is the very first expression you can try using at a Korean convenience store.
means ‘to pay for goods’.
is an expression used to make a polite request to someone.
Therefore, is a highly practical sentence that can be used not only at convenience stores but also at cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores. If you ever come to Korea, make sure to try using it!
