How to Shop at Olive Young in Korea: A Local’s Real Guide for First-Time Visitors

If you are visiting Korea, there’s one place you will probably hear about very quickly: Olive Young.

A lot of first-time visitors think it’s just another cosmetics store. But once you actually walk in, you realize it’s much more than that.

Olive Young is Korea’s most popular health and beauty store where locals actually shop. It’s not just skincare. You can find makeup, masks, haircare, body products, vitamins, diet products, perfume, and many daily essentials all in one place.

For travelers, it’s one of the easiest places to discover what Korean people are really buying right now. But because there are so many products, it can feel overwhelming at first.

This guide will show you how locals actually shop at Olive Young and what you should know before going.

1. Where Can You Find Olive Young?

Honestly, everywhere.

In Seoul, you can easily find Olive Young in:

Myeongdong
Hongdae
Gangnam
Seongsu
Jongno
Jamsil

In most busy areas, there’s usually one every few streets.

For first-time visitors, the Myeongdong branch is the easiest.

Why?

Bigger store
More popular products
Tax refund available
Staff are used to foreign tourists

Local Tip: Search “Olive Young” on Naver Map, Kakao Map, or Google Maps. It’s very easy to find.

Most stores open around:

10:00 AM – 10:00 PM / 11:00 PM

Hours can vary by branch.

2. What Should You Look At First?

Your first reaction will probably be:

“There’s way too much stuff.”

That’s normal. Olive Young can feel overwhelming.

Usually it’s divided like this:

Skincare section
Mask packs
Makeup
Haircare
Bodycare
Health products

The skincare area is usually the biggest. This is where most tourists spend the most time.

You’ll usually find:

Cleansers
Toners
Essence
Serums
Creams
Sunscreens

3. Understanding Olive Young Discounts

This part is important. Even locals wait for sales.

The most common deals:

1+1 Deals

Buy one, get one free. Very common for:

Mask packs
Cleansers
Sunscreens

Today Special

Limited-time daily discounts. Usually around:

20% to 50% off

Olive Young Sale Week

Big monthly sales. This is when prices are usually the best.

Local Tip: If you’re not in a hurry, look for products with sale stickers first.

4. What Do Foreigners Usually Buy?

These are some of the most common purchases:

Mask packs
Sunscreens
Cleansing oils
Moisturizers
Lip tints
Hand creams

Mask packs are probably the safest choice if you don’t know what to buy. They’re affordable and easy to carry.

Korean sunscreen is also very famous because it feels lighter than many Western brands.

Beginner Tip: Mask pack + sunscreen + lip tint is a very safe first shopping combo.

5. Can You Test Products?

Yes. Many products have testers.

Especially:

Lip products
Cushions
Perfumes
Creams

You can test them freely.

But locals usually test on their hands, not directly on their face. Mostly for hygiene reasons.

6. Can You Ask Staff for Recommendations?

Yes, absolutely.

Simple questions work well:

Best seller?
Popular in Korea?
Good for dry skin?

That’s enough.

In tourist-heavy areas like Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam, many staff can speak basic English.

And honestly, staff recommendations are usually pretty accurate. Even Korean locals ask for suggestions.

7. Can Foreigners Get Tax Refund?

Yes. Tourists can usually get tax refunds.

Usually:

Purchases over 15,000 KRW

Rules can change. Bring your passport.

Some stores process tax-free immediately. Others may require airport refund.

Important: Without your passport, tax refund may not be possible.

8. Can You Pay by Card?

Yes. Almost always.

Usually accepted:

Visa
Mastercard
JCB
UnionPay

Cash is also fine. But Korea is very card-friendly. Most people use cards.

9. Best Time to Shop Like a Local

Best time:

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM