Korea’s Mega Daiso Should Be On Your Itinerary

What is Daiso?

Whether you’ve just moved to Korea or are just stopping by for a visit, you will inevitably come across the ever-popular store, “Daiso.” I’d consider Daiso to be a “dollar store” equivalent, but with way more variety and much better quality (speaking as someone born and raised in the US).

Originally, this was a Japanese franchise with tons of branches all over the world. However, in 2023 “Daiso Korea” completely separated from the Japanese head office and became fully Korean-owned, meaning they produce, design and sell their own original products along with other Korean brands. This makes the experience at a branch in Korea completely unique with exclusive Korea merch, compared to other global locations.

The biggest Daiso can be found in Myeongdong, and it’s not uncommon for visitors to make their visit here first when they arrive in the country. Which only leaves one question…

What Shoud I Buy?

So what can you buy at Daiso? A little bit of everything to be honest.

They’ve got home decor, sporting goods, cleaning products, stationary supplies, gardening essential, toys, electronics, you name it! They also have collaborations with Disney and Marvel for some very cool Korea exclusive souvenirs that’ll cost you anywhere from ₩1,000 to ₩5,000. Such a steal!

For locals, Daiso is a budget friendly place to shop for everyday household essentials and supplies. My husband and I usually stop by when we’re running low on cleaning supplies, need some soil for our plants or a pack of paw wipes for our dog. I have also bought so many of my beautiful ceramic dishes and kitchen wear from Daiso.

For tourists, Daiso is a hotspot for budget friendly snacks, K-beauty products and travel essentials. For this reason, if you can only visit one Daiso location in Seoul, I highly recommend going to the Myeongdong Station Branch. This 12 floor location is the second largest Daiso in Korea and located in one of the most touristy areas in Seoul. It can get a bit crowded, but it’ll definitely be near other places on your Seoul itinerary.

Travel Essentials

If you’re traveling light, this is a great place to stop buy for any toiletries you may need like shampoo, conditioner, soap, wipes, tissues, hand sanitizer, lotion and things like that. They also have batteries, phone chargers and electrical adapters if you forgot them at home. If you need extra travel bags, containers and organizers for your trip back home, they’ve got that too!

Pet Souvenirs

The Myeongdong location has the biggest selection of pet goods I’ve ever seen at any Daiso. If you want a budget friendly souvenir for your furbaby, I’d definitely get it here. There are tons of treats, accessories and all kinds of things for both cats and dogs. My favorites are their Korean street food pet toys like the so-tteok-so-tteok, kimbab, chobab and the classic bungeo-ppang. So cute!

They also have super cute clothes that change seasonally and some of them are insanely good quality. I got matching fox capes for mine and my moms dog a few years back and they look good as new. I also got a navy blue trench coat that my dog wore to Paris and he got so many compliments on it. And it was only ₩5,000! The only downside is that the sizes are only suitable for small to medium sized dogs.

Snacks

You can’t possibly visit Korea without taking home a suitcase full of snacks. Here you’ll find an insanely wide variety of Korean snacks raging from jellies and chips to cookies and cakes. They also have a few foreign snacks thrown into the mix. My personal favorites are the mini yakgwa (traditional deep-fried honey cookies). They’re individually wrapped making them perfect for sharing or giving out as gifts. Full disclosure, this floor tends to be one of the most crowded, so bring your patience with you.

K-Beauty

If you don’t buy any K-beauty products, did you really even go to Korea? Of course all those products can be really hard on the wallet, especially if you’re buying stuff for friends and family. Daiso actually carries popular brands like CLIO and Nature Republic at an affordable price along with smaller brands that are super underrated and really good quality. They also have tons of face masks for only ₩1,000. So before you drop a ton of money at Olive Young, be sure to check out Daiso first!

Where is the Mega Myeongdong Daiso?

This Daiso is located near Myeongdong Station between exits 1 and 4. Both the floor guides and self-checkout kiosks are available in English, Japanese, and Chinese. And don’t forget to bring your passport to claim your tax refund.