Daiso Korea Must Buy: K-Beauty and Souvenirs Under 5,000 Won
Daiso Korea must-buy lists usually start with two things: VT Reedle Shot and makeup lines created specifically for the store. Both are worth checking out if you’re looking for affordable Korean beauty products. This guide covers which items to look for, what makes good souvenirs, and how to navigate stock availability and tax refunds at the large Myeongdong branch.
How Daiso Korea Pricing Works
Daiso Korea sells everything at six fixed prices: 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 won. The top tier is 5,000 won, which comes to a few US dollars depending on the exchange rate. Cosmetics tend to sit in the 3,000 and 5,000 won tiers.
With a maximum price of 5,000 won, it’s easy to budget for skincare, makeup, and souvenirs without worrying about expensive surprises.
K-Beauty Worth Buying at Daiso Korea
Beauty has become a major part of the store’s business. At the Myeongdong Station branch, beauty is the top-selling category, and a large share of purchases there are made with foreign cards.
VT Reedle Shot
The product that gets mentioned most is the VT Reedle Shot. Korean press reported that the Daiso version sells for 3,000 won, while a similar VT product at Olive Young costs over 30,000 won. The two aren’t the same size, so treat it as a price-per-use comparison rather than an identical product at a discount.
Before you use it, note that VT describes Reedle Shot as an intensive routine that may cause a tingling sensation. The level of intensity varies by version. If you’re trying Reedle Shot for the first time, VT recommends starting with the 50 or 100 version. The brand also advises against using the 100 and 300 versions together. Avoid applying it to irritated skin, and patch-test first if you have sensitive skin.
It also tends to sell out, which is covered in the tips below.
Makeup Lines Made for Daiso
Several Korean brands now sell separate lines at Daiso. Too Cool for School’s TAG is one of them, in the 1,000 to 5,000 won range. Creatrip’s roundup of Daiso beauty buys also names Son & Park, IPKN and A’pieu among the brands with products there. Lip and cheek balms, contour and highlighter duos, and cushion compacts are the categories travelers tend to look for first.
Lineups change often, so use the names as search terms in the store rather than a fixed shopping list.
Skincare From Pharmacy and Dermatology Brands
Skincare is the other half of the beauty section. Brands like Madeca21, Medi-Peel, and Sungboon Editor have been reported to carry Daiso lines of toner pads, soothing pads, and sheet masks. If you’re after something calming for travel-worn skin, that’s the aisle to check. Confirm the label and the price on the shelf, since these ranges rotate.
Korean Souvenirs Under 5,000 Won
The gift section is easier to browse than the beauty section, and the pricing keeps it cheap. These come up in travel guides as popular picks:
- Stainless steel spoon and chopstick sets, which work as a practical gift and cost about 1,000 to 3,000 won.
- Mother-of-pearl style stickers and masking tape, a Korean craft pattern that suits stationery.
- Hangul and hanbok themed magnets and keychains in the 1,000 to 3,000 won range.
- Licensed character stationery and phone accessories for people who collect them.
The prices above come from travel guides, so expect small differences in the store.
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Which Daiso to Visit
Small neighborhood branches carry only a part of the beauty range. The best choice for tourists is the Myeongdong Station branch, which occupies 12 floors. It was expanded from five floors in 2024, added an on-site tax refund system, and has multilingual staff. A Trazy guide to the largest Daiso stores in Seoul suggests starting on the top floor and working down, which saves backtracking in a building that size. It also lists the Hongik University and Gangnam Express Bus Terminal branches among the other big ones.
Tax Refund at Daiso
Foreign visitors can get a VAT refund at stores that take part in the tax-free system, and Daiso’s Myeongdong branch has on-site refund handling. Bring your passport. The minimum spend and the way the refund is handled depend on the store, so check at the counter before you pay. Published guides don’t agree on the minimum, with some giving 15,000 won and at least one 2026 guide giving 30,000 won. Daiso items are cheap enough that you’d need a fairly full basket to reach either number.
Is Daiso Korea the Same as Daiso Japan?
No. The Korean chain is run by Asung Daiso. Until December 2023 a Japanese company, Daiso Sangyo, held a 34.21 percent stake, and the Korean parent bought it out that month. The stores you see in Korea sell products sourced by the Korean company, which is also why the beauty lines and souvenirs differ from what you’d find at a Daiso in Japan.
Tips for Shopping at Daiso Korea
- Check stock before you commit. Popular products like Reedle Shot can be gone from the shelf. Ask a staff member, or look at a larger branch.
- Match the strength. If it’s your first time with Reedle Shot, start with the lower numbers.
- Don’t expect every product at every branch. Some products are only at larger stores.
- Compare against Olive Young for products you plan to repeat. A product that’s cheaper at Daiso may not be the same size.
If you only have time for one stop, head to the Myeongdong branch with a short shopping list. Product availability changes frequently, so leave a little room for unexpected finds.
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