Essential Korean Words for Shopping in Korea

The essential Korean words for shopping in Korea are the very first thing you should learn before your trip — because whether you’re browsing the vibrant stalls of Myeongdong or hunting for deals in a local 시장 (sijang) [SHI-jahng] — “market,” knowing even a handful of key phrases will transform your entire experience from tourist to confident shopper. And here’s the exciting news: you do not need to speak perfect Korean to shop like a local. A few targeted words go an incredibly long way, and Korean shopkeepers genuinely appreciate every effort you make.

If you have never seen Korean before, don’t panic. Korean uses its own alphabet called 한글 (hangeul) [HAN-geul] — “the Korean alphabet,” which was brilliantly designed in 1443 to be logical and learnable. Unlike Chinese characters, each Korean letter represents a sound, much like English letters do. Throughout this lesson, every Korean word comes with a pronunciation guide written in familiar English sounds — so even if you can’t read 한글 yet, you can still speak these shopping phrases out loud today.

By the end of this lesson, you will know exactly how to ask for prices, request a discount, find what you’re looking for, and complete a purchase — all in Korean. Let’s step into the store together.

The Absolute Must-Know Shopping Vocabulary

Every great shopping trip in Korea starts with a few core words. Think of these as your shopping survival kit. The most important word you’ll use is 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) [UHL-ma-yeh-yo] — “How much is it?” — your single most powerful phrase in any Korean store. The ㄹ sound in 얼마 is a light “l/r” blend — imagine saying “ul” very softly, almost like the “ul” in “ultra.” Practice this one until it rolls off your tongue naturally, because you will use it constantly.

Saying What You Want — Essential Phrases at the Counter

Once you spot something you like, you need to express interest or make a purchase. The golden phrase here is 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) [EE-guh JOO-seh-yo] — “Please give me this one.” Point at the item and say those four syllables confidently — that’s genuinely all it takes to complete a purchase in most Korean shops. The word 이거 (igeo) [EE-guh] — “this / this one” is your best friend when you can point but not name something. If you want to say “that one” instead, simply swap it for 저거 (jeogeo) [JUH-guh] — “that one (over there).” Notice the ㅈ sound — it’s like the “j” in “jungle,” crisp and clean.

Korean Numbers for Shopping — Prices Made Simple

Knowing a price means nothing if you can’t understand the numbers. Korean actually has two number systems, but for shopping prices, stores use the Sino-Korean system (borrowed from Chinese). The good news is that the core numbers are beautifully logical — once you learn 1 through 10, you can build almost any number. Prices in Korea are typically in 원 (won) [WON] — “Korean currency (₩).” A coffee might cost 사천 원 (sacheon won) [SAH-chun WON] — “4,000 won.” Here are the key numbers you’ll see on price tags: