The Guide to Korean Convenience Stores

The major chains

Illustration of a brightly lit convenience store open 24 hours — Convenience stores are on almost every block, most open 24 hours.

You are never far from a convenience store in Korea. The main chains are GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24 and Ministop. Most are open 24 hours, though some smaller branches keep shorter hours.

Services beyond snacks

Illustration of convenience-store services: ATM, coffee, umbrella, transit card and parcel pickup — Far more than snacks: ATMs, coffee, umbrellas, transit-card top-ups and parcels.

ATMs: Cash withdrawal, including some that accept foreign cards (look for a "Global" or foreign-card label).
Transit cards: Buy and top up a T-money card here; you can pay for almost all buses and subways with it.
Parcel service (택배): Send and sometimes pick up packages.
Bill payment: Pay certain utility and other bills at the counter.
Hot food and seating: Ramen, steamed buns, coffee, and microwaves to heat lunchboxes; many stores have a small seating area.
Event tickets and top-ups: Mobile top-ups, gift cards and more via the in-store kiosk.

Late-night medicine

When pharmacies are closed, many convenience stores sell a limited set of safety over-the-counter medicines around the clock: fever/pain relief, cold medicine, digestive medicine and pain patches. See our guide to finding a 24-hour pharmacy for details.

A note on toilets

Unlike in some countries, most Korean convenience stores are small and do not offer a public toilet. For a toilet, head to the nearest subway station, cafe or public building instead.

Worth trying

Convenience-store food is a genuine part of Korean daily life. Triangle kimbap, instant ramen you cook at the in-store hot-water station, banana milk, and seasonal desserts are all cheap and popular. It is a fun, low-cost way to eat like a local.