How to Pack for Korea: The Wins and the Regrets

Packing for a year in South Korea was remarkably difficult. Never having traveled here before, we had a hard time managing our expectations about what we would and would not be able to find easily. We figured the chemist might be able to find some clothes and shoes to fit him if needed, but as a taller woman I was afraid to count on finding anything in Korea that would fit me. Plus, we are #1 cheap and #2 efficient, so we weren’t willing to bring extra bags or to add weight beyond what the airlines allot for free.

We found lots of packing lists on the internet, and for the most part they were really helpful. Some of what we read to assist with our own packing we found to be true, and some we now think was not so accurate. The South Korean market also continues to change rapidly, so if a product comes into favor here it might suddenly become widely available. The best idea is to check online before you arrive to assess for product availability as best you can.

Depending on where you live and work in Korea, the packing needs are likely to be a little different. Some of our packing wins and regrets are specific to us and our life in Korea. With that understanding in mind, here are our two cents on the subject.

The Wins: What We’re Glad We Brought

1. Four seasons worth of clothes and shoes

As it turns out, our assumption about shopping for clothes here was pretty accurate. The chemist can find clothes to fit, but as a tall woman I cannot without a lot of effort. And – full disclosure – I hate to shop, so putting in a lot of effort to find clothes is not my thing. There are four seasons here, including a hot, humid, summer and a freezing cold winter. The chemist had to buy some sweaters here because he didn’t bring enough warm clothes for winter. The fall is gorgeous and supposedly so is the spring, though this year the spring has been so wet we couldn’t tell you! Rain gear has come in handy. In any case, you need clothes for four distinct seasons if you’re staying for a year or more.

2. Comfortable shoes

We walk A LOT here. Just traveling by public transportation automatically entails a lot of walking, and that’s before you add the walking we do for fun. Neither of us can easily buy shoes here, so we’re glad we brought what we needed. We did have to replace our hiking shoes because we wore our old ones out. I had to buy men’s shoes to find any that fit, though for hiking shoes this was not a big deal. I travelled all over Seoul looking for men’s hiking shoes to fit the chemist, and the only pair I finally found was at the Seoul Station Lotte Outlet.

3. Seasonings/spices from home

Most basic seasonings are available in Korea, especially in the larger cities. I wouldn’t bother to bring things like dried oregano, parsley, coriander, or tumeric for instance. However, if there is a blend you like – bring it. I have seen Italian herb blends but not many others. I’ve also heard from expats who are from curry-loving countries that they can’t find curry or chili blends here the way they can at home. I was also glad I brought vanilla extract as it’s really hard to find. I actually never have seen a bottle here, though it may exist somewhere.

4. Prescription medication

We didn’t realize we would be required to sign up for the National Health Insurance plan here, so we brought lots of medication not understanding that we would be insured in South Korea. There are pharmacies everywhere here, and the few prescriptions we’ve filled have been really affordable.

While there’s no need to bring a huge supply of medication, it’s good to bring enough to last a few months if possible. Since most prescriptions require a visit to a physician, knowing you have enough medication to last a while takes off some of the pressure of finding a doctor right away.

5. Food to start quarantine

Hopefully, this point will soon be but a not-so-happy memory. By the time we entered quarantine, no government entity or volunteer program in our neighborhood was providing those in quarantine with food staples. Our Air BNB host (God bless Han!) stocked our kitchen with some basics before we arrived. Thank goodness he did, because it took us several days to figure out how to order food without a Korean credit card. By the time we successfully ordered groceries, we had eaten all the food in the kitchen, including the snacks we brought with us. We were especially glad we had brought a small bag of ground coffee to see us through!

6. Mints and gum

This might seem like an odd one. There are definitely mints and gum available in Korea. However, even familiar brands here taste as though they are manufactured differently. In our experience, they taste sweeter and less minty than those at home. I’m kind of addicted to strong mint gum, so I was really happy to have my own from home. If you are not so addicted, you will probably be fine with what you can find here!

7. Pillows

Having our own pillows from home has provided a source of comfort and familiarity. Full disclosure: we’re pretty picky about pillows, so for us this was important. There is a lot of advice out there about whether to bring sheets and towels to Korea. It is true that large, fluffy towels are not much of a “thing” here. However, you can buy them in department stores if it’s really important to you. Sheets tend to be flat and not fitted, which is kind of a pain for making the bed. However, we didn’t bring any sheet or towels with us and haven’t missed them too much.

8. E-readers

I’m so happy we live in the era of the e-reader, so we weren’t tempted to take up any of our limited suitcase space with books. (And we both read a lot.) Most bookstores here have a limited selection of books in English, but this has not been a problem for us. We still use our home library to check out books electronically to our e-readers. Genius!

9. Deodorant

It is possible to buy deodorant here. However, it’s not prevalent and mostly is in stores with a more international customer base. There isn’t a large selection of brands, and it tends to be 2-3x more expensive than what we are used to paying in the U.S. (Though I noticed it’s not too expensive on Coupang if you’re not choosy about the brand.) Don’t make your suitcase overweight in order to bring it, but do bring at least a small supply.

10. Hanging toiletries bag

The default setting in Korea is the “wet” bathroom, meaning the drain is in the middle of the bathroom floor instead of in the shower. Some bathrooms have no separate shower at all but have just a hand-held shower over the sink. In these scenarios, there is likely to be little counter space. The hanging toiletries bag is a great space-saver and a good way to keep your toiletries from getting wet while you shower.

11. Plug adapter

Korea’s electricity is supplied at 220V and the plugs are two prong type F plugs (Schuko). We brought a handful of adapters based on the number of devices we were bringing, but it’s also easy to buy them here. Even if you are coming from a country that uses a voltage that is not 220, most smaller electronic devices like cell phone or laptop chargers will not require a power converter.

Most electronics indicate somewhere on the device the range of voltages that are accepted. For example, we made sure that our electric toothbrush chargers could be plugged into a 220V outlet by checking the tiny writing on the base of the charger. Since it indicated that 100-240 V was acceptable, all we needed was a plug adapter to convert it from A to F type outlet. Typically, larger appliances like a hairdryers and coffee makers do require a power converter in addition to the plug adapter, since they are not capable of adjusting the voltage.

12. Tampons

Another product not widely used in South Korea. If you want them, bring them. Even on Coupang the selection is very limited, and they’re pretty expensive. I’ve heard Costco in Korea may sell them, but we haven’t been there to check.

13. International Driver’s Permit

We’ve rented cars here on several occasions, and each time they have asked for the international driver’s permit (IDP). My understanding is the rules are different depending on your country of origin and how long you’re staying in Korea. However, the IDP is good for a year, so if you’re coming from the U.S. and staying for a year or less, definitely get it!

14. Photos of family and friends

We brought a few photos of loved ones and have them hanging on the fridge in our apartment. It always makes us happy to look up and see those familiar faces.

The Regrets: What We Wish We Hadn’t Brought

1. Dress shoes

Certainly, this equation could change depending on your reasons for being in Korea. We thought we’d brought the bare minimum of shoes we needed for dressier occasions, and we both still ended up with shoes we never wore. We needed comfortable shoes much more than we needed dressy ones. Plus sneakers are pretty fashionable here, so a lot of times you see people dressed up and still wearing sneakers!

2. Sleeveless shirts

These were sometimes useful for layering under a sweater or jacket, but I feel very self-conscious when I wear just a sleeveless top on a hot day. Korean women as a whole dress conservatively and with the aim of keeping the sun off their skin. Thus, sleeveless tops are a rare site. To be clear, mine are high-necked, otherwise conservative tops, and I still feel conspicuous when I wear them.

3. Too many over-the-counter medications

Most of what you need is probably available here but might not be available over-the-counter. Bring a small supply to get you started, or anything you know you use a lot. I’ve heard ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be expensive here, but we brought enough for the year so can’t say anything from experience. We were glad we had a supply of medications to start with, but we brought way more than we really needed.

4. Toothpaste

Please, do not waste your suitcase space by bringing extra toothpaste. Before we came here, we read that it was difficult to find toothpaste in pleasant, minty flavors. We have found this to be untrue. There are some unusual toothpaste flavors here, such as this “Natural Fresh Herb” one that tastes like a pine tree. (Not our favorite.) However, with little effort we’ve found several varieties with pleasant, minty flavors similar to Colgate or Crest.

5. Lotion

There are so many nice lotions and other skincare products here. There are expensive ones in department stores, but there are cheaper ones in Olive Young, Daiso, and a number of other, cheaper stores. Unless you have a favorite you can’t live without, don’t bother bringing any extra.

One skincare exception: if you are really partial to benzoyle peroxide cream to treat acne, bring it. The main over-the-counter acne treatment here seems to be delivered in these little patches. They work pretty well, but I still think there are times when the cream is better. And if the cream is here, I haven’t found it.

6. Outerwear like hats and scarves

Seasonal gear is very easy to find here and is affordable. Anything that’s not sized should be easy to buy when you arrive. Even jackets are available in more varied sizes than most other clothing. Be aware that most seasonal gear is available only in season, so don’t expect to easily find a swimsuit in January, for instance, or a winter hat in April. Other than that, shopping for outerwear should not be difficult.

The Wishes: What We Should Have Brought

1. More hiking clothes

Admittedly, this is pretty specific to us. However, it might be useful to know that hiking is a huge sport and national pastime in Korea. We knew we’d hike here but had no idea how much. There are so many hiking shops that you can buy basically whatever you need here. Even I could buy tops and jackets if I were willing to go hunting for them. The pants and shoes were harder for me, however. Koreans as a whole like to be very decked out for hiking, so a lot of the gear is not cheap. The best deals seem to be at the end of each season, when lots of stuff goes on sale at deep discounts.

2. Conservative summer clothes

As previously mentioned, even the summer clothes I thought were conservative tended not to be Korea-conservative. Rather than shorts, for instance, I wish I’d brought more light, summery dresses, which is what most women here seem to wear on a hot day. When more tourists come back to Korea, this might not be such a big deal, but right now there aren’t many alternate styles of dress even in Seoul. Young men wear shorts around the city, but women rarely do. Neutral colors also are much more prevalent, so if you want to blend in a little more, leave the bright colors at home.

3. Four-wheeled rolling carry-on luggage

If you plan to travel around Korea a lot using public transportation, consider investing in a four-wheeled carry-on bag rather than two-wheeled. There is never enough space in Korean cities, and the trains stopping at transportation hubs tend to be packed. Having a suitcase that pulls upright beside you rather than one that takes up lots of space to pull behind you can be more convenient. Not a necessity, but a good idea we didn’t think about in advance.

4. Chocolate

Never in Korea have I found a bar of chocolate I thought was truly satisfactory. Even supposedly “nice” chocolate, even chocolate claiming to be “Belgian” or to have a high percentage of cocoa was disappointing. There are shops where you can buy expensive, handmade chocolate candies. Some of those were very nice. However, I admit to being spoiled for choice when it comes to good-quality, fairly inexpensive dark chocolate bars. Comparable bars here I found to be overly sweet and too waxy. If you are picky about your chocolate, bring some! At least enough to get you through a few weeks of searching for something else that will fit the bill.

Where to Get the Stuff You Forgot to Bring: Advice from Non-Shoppers

We’ve said it before and we’ll probably say it again: no one is paying us to endorse their products through this blog. There are countless retail stores in South Korea, and we don’t claim to be experts (especially not shopping experts!). You can find retail experiences from mom and pop shops to large, expensive department stores, to traditional markets, and each has its benefits depending what you are shopping for. At different points, we have visited stores in each of these categories and had shopping success.

Because we are not big shoppers, our aim here is to give some practical guidance to anyone who might be arriving in Korea and have no idea where to start. These are mostly “big-box” type stores. You find the smaller markets and “hidden gem” local stores by exploring your neighborhood, and all neighborhoods have them in some measure. We hope to save you some of the headaches we experienced when we wandered around Seoul for weeks with little idea of where to efficiently and affordably buy anything we needed.

1. Daiso

Really, I could have just done a whole post that is a love letter to Daiso, a store of Japanese origin that has been fully embraced by Koreans. It’s not that it sells anything special; it’s more that it doesn’t sell anything special. All the random stuff I didn’t know where to find for a good price, I suddenly found as soon as someone introduced me to Daiso: tape, beauty products, extra wine glasses, yoga mats, hand soap, toilet paper, socks, candles, kitchen supplies, etc. If you didn’t come to Korea with enough underwear, just go to Daiso first!

Two other great features of Daiso: 1) once you know what the stores look like, you realize they are everywhere, so you can always find one; 2) nothing in the store costs over 5,000 KRW (<$5 USD). It can take some effort to find what you want as the shelves tend to be crowded, but rarely have I failed to find what I was looking for in their larger stores.

2. eMart

eMart reminds me most strongly of Target if I’m comparing it to a U.S. brand. Owned by the Shinsegae Group, which also owns more expensive department stores, it is the largest retailer in Korea. eMart has many of the same features as Daiso in terms of what you can find there, but it’s a little more expensive. Some stores are more heavily stocked with clothes, and others lean toward housewares. As far as I know, all their stores carry groceries. The eMart at Yongsan Station is very well-stocked with international foods, including some western staples that are hard to find elsewhere.

Be prepared for the somewhat overwhelming aisles crowded with shoppers, music and ads playing loudly over the speakers throughout the store, and employees standing in the aisles calling out information about products they are selling. Quite the obstacle course!

3. Homeplus

Homeplus is the second largest discount retailer in Korea and sells basically the same kinds of products that eMart sells. Anecdotally, I find the groceries to be a little cheaper overall and of good quality. I have a special love for HomePlus because it was the first grocery store we were able to use to order on-line for delivery, which we needed for quarantine and then continued as it’s so much easier to manage larger orders without a car. They also sell a lot of bulk products, so if you order online you might be surprised by how much you receive!

4. Foreign Food Mart (Itaewon, Seoul)

This packed little grocery store is a wonder of international culinary exploration. Catering to foreigners from every continent, you never know what you might find here. Although it is a great place to go if you are looking for that item from home you just can’t live without, it pays to price-check before going too crazy. While some products would be hard to find elsewhere, others are more widely available and are just over-priced here. If you don’t live in Seoul, this market has a website and ships all over Korea.

5. G-Market

Owned by eBay Korea (which was just bought by eMart!), G-Market is a large e-commerce retailer selling tons of Korean products, as well as imported goods from all over the world. English-friendly (use the Global site, not the Korean site) and PayPal accessible, it was the first site we could use in quarantine before we had a Korean credit card. Though it does sell some products as cheaply as I could find them here, using G-Market does entail using some really dated interface. The search feature isn’t awesome and doesn’t sort products all that well. The prices can be worth some digging, but Coupang’s interface (below) is much easier to use, and the prices are often comparable to G-Market’s.

6. Coupang

Coupang is Korea’s answer to Amazon. Like G-Market, it sells Korean products as well as imported ones. Its search features and interface are easier to use than G-Market’s, and the page translates reasonably into English. When you can’t find a product anywhere else, my experience has been that Coupang often has it. You do need a Korean banking card and phone number to set up an account, and I found doing so as an English-speaker to be a very labor-intensive process.

During the pandemic, Coupang became Korea’s top e-commerce retailer, in part due to its availability of overnight delivery. Along with this convenience comes many of the problems known to Amazon, such as complaints about working conditions for the company’s warehouse employees, contractors, and delivery drivers. In terms of environmental impact, South Korea leads the world in plastic consumption, with increased reliance on home delivery services not helping this trend.

Having said that, Coupang is incredibly popular in South Korea just as Amazon is popular in the U.S. We seldom walk through our apartment building without seeing a Coupang delivery in front of multiple doors.

The Last Word

Given that we had never visited Korea before we moved here for the year, overall we feel pretty good about our packing choices. We used most of what we brought and didn’t have any huge regrets about what we “should have” brought. Once we learned to shop here, life got a lot easier, and our packing choices seemed less significant.

We’ve heard it said that the national sports of South Korea are hiking and shopping, so if you’re a shopper you’ll have little trouble finding most of what you need. If not, we’re here to say you can make it through a year with minimal commitment to retail experiences! In the end, the most important element of packing is probably making sure you have the necessities, and then including some things that make you feel comfortable. Anything you have to buy once you get here is just another excuse to explore!