The Junkyard
(Korean Convenience Stores)
Food is culture. Every culture is different. One exception? Junk food.
Korea’s junk yard haul may surprise. It may be horrifying. It may inspire awe. So dig in! You’ll find something to satisfy your sweet tooth or salty tongue.
Chips & Crisps
The chips (or crisps) in Korea go a little beyond your standard potato chip. How exotic are we talking? How about shrimp flavored chips? Chips sprinkled with crushed peanuts? Interested in squid and peanuts? (Not actually squid.)
If you want to play it safe, you can try the sweet and salty honey butter or honey apple chips.
O! Karto serves up french fry chips. That’s right! Potato chips in french fry form.
Pringles offer their typical bites, with some exotic additions. Want to try cola flavored? How about butter caramel?
And, if you’re a big fan of Bugles corn chips, Kko Kkal Corn (꼬깔콘) is Korea’s version.
Saeukkang
Saeukkang, also known as Shrimp Cracker, is a popular Korean snack produced by Nongshim since 1971. The name “Saeukkang” originates from the Korean word “Saeu”, meaning shrimp. It was the first snack of its kind in South Korea.
The sales of Saeukkang boosted Nongshim’s market presence, contributing to a 350% increase in sales within three months of its launch. The company marketed the crackers with the famed slogan, “Grab some here, grab some there. Grab shrimp crackers anywhere.”
O! Karto Potato Sticks
O! Karto Potato Sticks, launched by Orion in 1999, is a distinctively shaped snack resembling penne pasta or straws. Their unique taste and texture has garnered a dedicated following, contributing to their longevity and status as one of Orion’s top snacks.
These hollow French fry-shaped snacks are known for their lightness and crisp texture. Koreans find many ways to consume them: topped with string cheese and microwaved to create “O! Karto Cheese Fries.” Dipped in various sauces like donkatsu, teriyaki, and ketchup.
Choco Pies and Peperos
Sweetness abounds in Korea. So don’t worry if you’ve got urges.
Choco Pies (초코파이) are moonpies’ Korean cousin. However, Korea stuffs them not only with marshmallows. You’ll find cream stuffed. Green tea stuffed. Banana stuffed.
Peperos (빼빼로) boast by far the best marketing team of any sweet treat. Come to Korea on November 11th (a.k.a. Pepero Day) and you’ll find sweethearts exchanging boxes of these chocolate covered cookie sticks. Why November 11th? 11-11. Four pepero sticks in a row.
Digets (다이제) are popular semi-sweet digestives in Korea. Chocolate coats one side. The other side goes bare. They go great with a hot cup of coffee.
Pastries & Bread
Like fresh bread? Tucked into the ends of aisles, you’ll often find a tiny bakery. You’ll find plastic packaged cream-filled delights, like chocolate topped doughnuts and frosted cookies.
A common sight is a sweet roll filled with red bean paste. Red bean? For parts of east Asian, red bean is their chocolate, a bitter plant infused with a ton of sugar.
Korean’s also love their roll cakes. They bring these cream wrapped sponge cakes to get-togethers and work celebrations.
Beware, the bread selection isn’t straight from the oven. But they aren’t week-old doorstops. The stock rotates out every evening, in every morning.
Dried Squid
Dried squid is a staple snack found in convenience stores across Korea. It’s often enjoyed with beer or soju, and is appreciated for its savory taste and chewy texture. It’s typically prepared by drying the squid to preserve its natural flavors and then lightly seasoning it.
Conveniently packaged, it offers a quick, protein-rich snack option for those on the go or looking for a light, traditional bite. Popular among both locals and tourists, dried squid reflects a part of Korea’s rich seafood culture, offering a taste of the ocean in a simple, portable form.
Quick Breakfast
Korea developed from hunger to Mercedes in record time. However, breakfast options lag. Most mornings, Koreans dine on a bowl of home cooked rice. Waffles and flapjacks are desert options at cafes.
If you want a quick carb load to start your day, visit a convenience store the night before. Grab an armful of pastries, a carton of milk, and a can of coffee. Bring them back to your motel, throw them in the mini-fridge. When you wake, stuff your face.
It’s not the healthiest option. But it’ll get you on the road fast.
Candy! Candy!
Remember being a kid? No. Well, swing by the candy aisle. You’ll find many new and old treasures to dig up long forgotten memories.
Search for a purple bag with animated worms. Written atop, find 왕꿈틀이. Translation: Big Gummy Worms. You guessed it. They’re Korea’s version of the good ol’ gummy worm.
Lotte is one of Korea’s mega corps. Besides their theme parks and apartment buildings, they also make sweet treats. Bars of milk and dark chocolate Ghana decorate every sugary aisle on the peninsula.
The Spanish confectionery Chupa Chups is another candy fixture. Their lollipops grabbed Korean children’s imagination. You’ll find trees with lollipop limbs on many checkout counters.
Crown Confectionery is a homegrown candy maker. Their most popular offering is 마이쮸 (Ma-ie-jju). Like Starburst, the taffy candy comes in grape, strawberry, and apple flavors.
Convenience Explosion
There are over 40,000 convenience stores in Korea. More open every day.
Find a nook, a closet, a spacious hole in the wall. Blink and a ‘New Store Coming Soon’ sign will appear.
Here are the ubiquitous chains.
*Click on the Korean name. They link to Kakao Maps. Just zoom into your location to find restaurants near you.
