Shopping in Korea · Olive Young
Last updated: September 19, 2026
Olive Young in Myeongdong · Photo: Sgroey / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pick one category before you enter. Compare two or three products inside that category.
Use testers for differences you can see or feel immediately. Read 1+1 and special sets by the quantity you will actually use. If a product is part of a tourist tax-refund plan, keep that take-home item unopened and unused.
1. Use a Large Store for Comparison
A large Olive Young is useful when you want several Korean brands and formats in the same place.
CJ Olive Young's current Central Myeongdong Town has been described by the company as carrying roughly 1,000 brands and 15,000 products. That scale is useful for comparison, not as a shopping target.
Choose one task—sunscreen, lip tint, cushion, mask gift or a known refill—and work inside that section.
2. One Need, Two or Three Candidates
For one sunscreen, for example, compare only the differences that affect how you will actually use it:
Fragrance preference
Size and format
How it behaves under makeup, if relevant
The promotion actually available today
Bestseller rankings and awards can help you find a first candidate. They do not replace your own product requirements.
3. Use Testers for Immediate Differences
A tester cannot show how a skincare product will perform after days or weeks. It can still help you reject obvious mismatches.
Is the texture heavier than expected?
Does the lip color look different on your skin?
Does the cushion shade work?
Is the finish something you would actually wear?
Follow the store's tester and hygiene instructions.
4. Read 1+1 and Special Sets by Quantity
A 1+1 promotion can work well for a product you already use. For a first-time product, count how many units you are actually committing to.
For a special set, count:
Minis
Gifts
Duplicate functions already in your basket
Then compare that quantity with what you will realistically use.
5. Separate “Use in Korea” From “Take Home”
A product you intend to open and use during the trip.
Take Home
An unopened gift, backup or product you plan to export.
Current tourist tax-refund guidance excludes goods already opened or used before export. Items you plan to open during the trip should not be included in your tax-refund plan.
Korea Tax Refund for Tourists →
6. Choose the Branch by What You Need
Central Myeongdong works well when breadth and comparison matter. A nearby neighborhood branch can be quicker for a known product or refill.
Hours, inventory and tax-refund service are branch-specific. Check the actual location before crossing Seoul for one item.
Why am I buying this?
Do I already own another product serving the same role?
Would I still buy one without the promotion?
For the broader souvenir and suitcase decision: What to Buy in Korea: Souvenirs Worth Packing, from K-Beauty to K-Pop →