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Users of South Korean shopping apps are used to purchasing pretty much everything online from the comfort of their homes. While many in the rest of the world have seen a massive shift to online shopping apps following the global pandemic, the more digitally inclined people in South Korea have been already using them for some time. You can purchase almost anything from clothing to consumer electronics, kitchen, and home appliances, authentic Korean fashion items, cosmetics, health products, and even groceries using the many high-quality shopping apps available today.
As a country with over 98% internet penetration, South Korea is ideal for digital marketing opportunities. If you’ve just started operating your business in South Korea, here are the most popular South Korean online shopping apps used by customers, and how they make online shopping easy.
The Top 6 South Korean Shopping Apps
South Korea is a shopping paradise and the country’s tech-savvy culture has made shopping even more convenient with the rise of shopping apps. There are plenty of options available, but some app stores offer a more comprehensive selection than others. In this regard, it’s always wise to turn to the best of the best.
The top 6 South Korean shopping apps leading the pack comprise Naver Shopping, Coupang, Gmarket, 11Street, and SSG. These shopping apps offer a unique experience in every aspect possible, from personalized product recommendations to exclusive deals and discounts. Whatever you’re looking for, you can be sure to find it with these top-rated apps.
Naver Shopping
Naver Shopping is a game-changer for online shopping in South Korea. This platform offers a seamless shopping experience that connects consumers directly with retailers. With real-time interactions, shoppers can ask questions, get advice, and make informed decisions. Retailers can showcase their products, provide accurate information, and build relationships with their customers. Naver Shopping’s user-friendly interface and variety of products ensure that shoppers can find everything from everyday essentials to luxury items. This platform revolutionizes the way people shop, making it easier, faster, and more convenient. With Naver Shopping, South Koreans can shop with ease from the comfort of their own homes.
Coupang
The Coupang shopping app has a vast array of items from electronics like mobile phones to grocery items and even beauty products. What the app is famous for is the Rocket Delivery service which is available for Rocket Wow members for a monthly subscription of 2,900 Korean Won. What this provides is a super fast delivery within one or two days and free delivery for most products. They even offer a morning delivery service for breakfast-related products like milk, bread, and fresh fruits.
Coupang is an app where you can get affordable prices that even students will find reasonable, and you don’t have to worry about the product quality when buying. There are attractive discounts and offers from various partner companies that shoppers can receive. Coupang is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The only downside to this Korean app is that it is not currently supporting the English language. The good news is that you can still access the desktop version of the shopping site and get Google to translate the web content into English. Coupang’s success is what other shopping apps are still trying to emulate.
Gmarket
If there’s something you can’t find on other shopping sites like Coupang, 11STREET, or even Danggeun, then the Gmarket app is a great place to take your search next. There is no delivery charge for items delivered within South Korea, and you can expect to find anything from a washing machine to a pack of elastic bands. Even supermarkets and department store brands like Lotte, Shinsegae, and Homeplus have their products available on this app.
What new members should keep in mind when using this online store is that Gmarket is an international auction and sales site. There is a chance that you could end up spending money on counterfeit goods, although they might be advertised as coming from authentic and famous brands.
On the plus side, however, Gmarket has customer loyalty programs and rewards its users with coupons that they can use to receive discounts. It also supports a variety of payment options from the likes of Visa, Mastercard, Union Pay, Paypal, and Alipay. Furthermore, Gmarket is available in English, Japanese, and Chinese, making it accessible to a wider audience in South Korea. You can get it from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
11STREET
11STREET is one of the shopping sites that are popular among foreigners that wish to go shopping online in South Korea. English and Chinese are supported here and some select products may be available with international shipping. 11STREET is essentially an online shopping mall offering a wide range of products from different categories including trendy clothes, jewelry, shoes, and even consumer electronics products from major brands.
Customers who sign up for this app will discover promotional events where they can receive discount coupons, allowing them to get even better prices. You will also receive store points every time you make a payment on the app, which can be redeemed later on your next payment.
SK Planet which operates the 11STREET online shopping mall has also partnered with Amazon to provide South Koreans with access to international products that have worldwide shipping. You can download the 11STREET from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
SSG
This online shopping platform has everything from fashion to electronics, making it a one-stop shop for all needs. With its user-friendly interface and intuitive search system, finding what a shopper needs has never been easier. Plus, SSG Shopping’s unique algorithm suggests items based on browsing history and preferences, ensuring a user always finds something they love. In addition to its vast selection of products, SSG Shopping offers customer service and a membership system for loyal customers. This site also features exclusive discounts, special deals, and promotions that can save you money on purchases.
WeMakePrice Online Shopping App
If you’re shopping for authentic Korean goods, then chances are you will find them on this app. There are plenty of different brands and items such as fashion products, skincare products, and baby products available, although these are mainly meant for the domestic market. Even the interface is only available in Korean, making it one of the least accessible apps on this list.There is a mandatory registration to use this application, with users having to input a local phone number and Korean ID to get to the online store. If you do manage to register and access WeMakePrice, it does have good prices with discounts that can go as high as 30%. The brands are well known to most locals, and the quality of the products is usually guaranteed to be high. You can download WeMakePrice from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Other Popular South Korean Online Shopping Sites
There are several other online shopping apps and sites that South Korean shoppers frequently use. Here are some of them.
Danggeun Market (Carrot Market)
Danggeun Market also referred to as ‘Carrot Market’ is a very different type of shopping app from Coupang. This app makes shopping for secondhand goods extremely convenient and often has amazing bargains. Anything from board games to sofas can be purchased here, and if you’re lucky, you might even find items that are almost brand new and still in their original packaging.
You do have to be a little vigilant while purchasing since anyone can sell their goods on this platform. However, the folks at Danggeun have introduced a system where users have to verify their real locations within South Korea, which has been useful in cracking down on fraudulent accounts.
You can also sell your items on Danggeun Market by listing them and uploading photos. It reduces the need to visit a subway shopping mall or the surplus store where people used to buy or sell secondhand goods. The app is available in English although you will have to understand a little Korean if you wish to negotiate properly with buyers and sellers on the platform. Danggeun Market is on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Kakao Zigzag
If you’re looking for a Korean fashion app, then Zigzag is where you need to visit. Over 7,000 fashion shops are making their products available on this app, and you can even use the style you like to make your search easier. Everything from clothes, accessories, and cosmetics is available on this Korean fashion app.
Other Shopping Apps
Apart from the latest Korean fashion products, there are other items you can purchase online. If you want to discover healthy vegan food, then Happy Cow will help you find vegan restaurants and stores that sell cruelty-free cosmetics. iHerb is an application that lets you purchase health products where you can compare prices across multiple brands, and even see which ones are recommended by professionals in the medical field.
Looking To Market Your Products In South Korea?
If you’re planning on taking your brand to South Korea, then you will need a digital marketing expert to help you penetrate this market. Whether you’re selling fashion, electronics, or digital products, you will need someone who understands not just the popular online shopping apps, but also the digital platforms and messaging applications that South Korean customers frequently use.
For example, KakaoTalk is the dominant messaging app in South Korea with over 50 million monthly active users while Naver Search is the preferred search engine in the country for many. Any type of marketing campaign has to take into account platforms like these. Fortunately for you, Inquivix has experience supporting clients to launch successful marketing efforts on these digital platforms. We also offer a comprehensive set of digital marketing services including search engine optimization, online advertising, and social media marketing. To learn more, visit Inquivix today!
FAQs
The most popular online shopping applications in South Korea are Coupang, Danggeun Market, 11STREET, Gmarket, WeMakePrice, and ZIGZAG.
In terms of monthly active users, Coupang is the most widely used online shopping app in South Korea. The prices are generally reasonable, the sellers can be trusted, Rocket Delivery is fast, and there is a wide range of products available online.