10 Must-Buy Items at Korean Convenience Stores, Starting from 900 Won

To cut to the chase, Korean convenience store souvenirs can all be handled within 900 to 17,000 won. From seaweed for handing out to coworkers, snacks to go with drinks, and the desserts trending in Seoul right now — everything is on the shelves of the four major chains (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and E-mart24).

The times you end up stopping by a convenience store are usually the first night of your trip to Korea and right before packing on the last day. What you can least afford at those moments is time spent hesitating in front of the shelves.

So decide in advance. Here are 10 noteworthy items on the shelves now in 2026, organized by price and which chains carry them.

The top pick for handout souvenirs: GS25's "Emokase No.1 Lunchbox Seaweed"

The classic Korean souvenir is, after all, seaweed. And if you're choosing this year's standout, it's Emokase No.1 Lunchbox Seaweed. The price is 12,000 won, available at GS25.

Emokase No.1 is a Korean home-style cooking chef who appeared on the Netflix cooking competition show 'Culinary Class Wars.' Her grilled seaweed became a huge talking point during the show's team battle, and it was turned into a product just like that. It features a savory, fragrant flavor from sesame oil and perilla oil, with a distinct taste character.

And it comes in individual packaging. For handout souvenirs to coworkers and friends, this is the deciding factor. One box gives you enough small packets for everyone on your list, so the 12,000 won price ends up feeling light.

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For drinking snacks, the second Mektekkang release: Gochujang Mayo

If you're stuck on a gift for someone who loves drinking, go with Mektekkang Gochujang Mayo. It costs 17,000 won and is carried at all four chains: CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and E-mart24.

"Mektae" means dried pollack. It's a classic drinking snack in Korea, and Mektekkang is that flavor turned into a snack chip. The series originally started with the green chili–flavored "Mektekkang Cheongyang Chili Mayo," which sold a million units in one week when it launched in 2023. The Gochujang Mayo that arrived this year is the second installment.

The flavor backbone is the spiciness of gochujang and a sweetish mayonnaise. The texture is light, and it pairs with either beer or soju. Being able to easily explain it as "that Korean snack that went viral" is also a big plus for a souvenir.

To try Korea's current dessert trend, CU's 405 Towel Cake

Towel cake is a dessert where a thin crepe is filled with plenty of fresh cream and finished to look like a folded towel. It's been a hit in Korea since around the end of last year as the dessert that came after Dubai chocolate.

And you can buy it at a convenience store. The 405 Towel Cake sold at CU is a product from a bakery brand called 405, priced at 5,000–5,100 won. The cream is generously weighty against the thin crepe — the real deal, like something you'd eat at a café. With its cute looks included, it's perfect as the one treat to enjoy after getting back to your hotel 🍰

It's a dessert that's expected to become a hit in Japan too, so being able to try it at convenience store prices before it arrives there is a now-only opportunity. CU's new products are announced on the official CU Instagram, so checking the shelf situation before your trip is a safe bet.

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Three trending items under 2,000 won

These are the small add-ons at the end of your checkout. Since the prices are light here, the right move is to choose based on buzz.

• Home Run Ball Matcha Strawberry / 2,000 won · CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, E-mart24 — A spring-limited flavor of a long-selling snack with over 40 years of history. It combines strawberries from Nonsan and matcha from Jeju, and is limited to 2.5 million units nationwide. The classic packaging comes in seasonal colors, making it easy to recognize as a souvenir 🌸
• Jjanggu Is Full Ramen / 1,800 won · CU — A collaboration with Crayon Shin-chan. It's a spicy beef-bone-broth ramen with a fish cake shaped like Shin-chan's face inside, making everything from cooking to eating fun. It also works as a gift for kids.
• Squid Game Dalgona-Flavor Jelly / 900 won — Dalgona is that stamped honeycomb candy familiar from the show. At 900 won a piece, it's a handy filler when you're not sure how many people you need to cover.

For drinks and daily items, choose by where you'll consume them

This is the category for consuming locally rather than bringing home. The price range is wide here, so it's best to sort by purpose.

The biggest newcomer is the Hwanli Highball (4,500 won · CU). Just as drinks with lemon slices became a hit in Japan, fruit-infused drinks are popular in Korea too, and this one is a chef collaboration with real pineapple inside and 6.5% ABV. You can drink it straight from the can, making it just right for a nightcap at your hotel.

For breakfast, there's Greek Yogurt To Go (2,900 won) and Honey Granola Greek Yogurt (4,900 won). If you get the type with granola attached to the cup, all you need is a spoon. Coffee starts at 2,300 won, so on days when you want to skip the hotel breakfast, this combo is the quickest route.

Editor's note: The highball is a liquid, so if you plan to bring it home, count on putting it in checked luggage. Yogurt items are refrigerated, so it's safest to treat them as things to consume locally rather than souvenirs.

Quick reference table by price

Product	Price	Where to buy
Squid Game Dalgona-Flavor Jelly	900 won	—
Jjanggu Is Full Ramen	1,800 won	CU
Home Run Ball Matcha Strawberry	2,000 won	CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, E-mart24
Coffee	2,300 won	—
Greek Yogurt To Go	2,900 won	—
Hwanli Highball	4,500 won	CU
Honey Granola Greek Yogurt	4,900 won	—
405 Towel Cake	5,000–5,100 won	CU
Emokase No.1 Lunchbox Seaweed	12,000 won	GS25
Mektekkang Gochujang Mayo	17,000 won	CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, E-mart24

Scanning the table vertically, you'll notice that many items are CU exclusives. The 405 Towel Cake, Jjanggu Is Full Ramen, and Hwanli Highball are on CU's shelves. Emokase No.1 Lunchbox Seaweed is at GS25. Cover these two chains and you can pick up the majority of the 10 items.

Summary

For handout souvenirs, GS25's Emokase No.1 Lunchbox Seaweed (12,000 won, individually packaged); for drinkers, Mektekkang Gochujang Mayo (17,000 won); and for a treat for yourself, CU's 405 Towel Cake (5,000–5,100 won). These three form the backbone of your souvenir haul.

Then just adjust the count with 900–2,000 won snacks. Decide that CU and GS25 are your two chains and stop by just once before packing on the final day. That's the most efficient way to shop ✨

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for Korean convenience store souvenirs?

A range of 900 to 17,000 won is enough. For handouts, Emokase No.1 Lunchbox Seaweed is 12,000 won and individually packaged, so one box covers multiple people. For small-item adjustments, use the Squid Game Dalgona-Flavor Jelly at 900 won or Home Run Ball Matcha Strawberry at 2,000 won.

Does the selection differ between the four major convenience stores?

Yes. The 405 Towel Cake, Jjanggu Is Full Ramen, and Hwanli Highball are at CU, while Emokase No.1 Lunchbox Seaweed is at GS25. On the other hand, Mektekkang Gochujang Mayo and Home Run Ball Matcha Strawberry are carried at all four chains: CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and E-mart24.

Can alcohol and yogurt work as souvenirs too?

Alcohol is possible, but cans like the Hwanli Highball are liquids, so plan on putting them in checked luggage. Greek Yogurt To Go (2,900 won) and Honey Granola Greek Yogurt (4,900 won) are refrigerated items, so realistically they're better bought as your local breakfast rather than as souvenirs.