Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South Korea's shopping landscape can be divided into a few tiers. At the higher end
you've got department stores such as Shinsegae and Lotte, which, contrary to the dowdy
image the term evokes in some other countries, are generally high-class complexes with
floor after floor of designer clothing, household goods, and well-stocked grocery stores.
Slightly further down the retail chain are superstores such as E-mart and Lotte Mart, which
usually have a wider array of furniture, clothing, and food at slightly lower prices, but less
in the way of luxury goods. Almost every major town in South Korea has at least one de-
partment store and a superstore branch or two, and larger cities, like Seoul or Busan, liter-
ally have dozens.
The low end is taken up by traditional markets, which are either at permanent locations
or convene every few days. Particularly for those with limited Korean skills, a stress-free
shopping experience they're not—they can be crowded, full of unfamiliar sights and smells,
and haggling is sometimes required—but they can't be beat for bargains on produce, meat,
and sometimes clothing and household items as well. There are also convenience stores or
supa
(miniature supermarkets) on nearly every urban street corner that sell a limited variety
of fruit, vegetables, rice, noodles, and other daily necessities.
