I’m a huge fan of Korean snacks and sweets, and of course you have to buy at least a few when you are in Korea.
They make great souvenirs that you can bring home to share with your family, friends, colleagues, neighbours. No one would say no to good food!
Some are so delicious, you’ll most likely just finish it up before you can even bring them back home 😂
Here is a list of stuff that I’ve tried and will recommend that you buy, try and bring back home as well! You can definitely get most of these in Lotte Mart, and a selected few at convenience stores.
P.S. this list is not exhaustive, I’ll occasionally come back and update with more recommendations!
Bibigo Seaweed (돌김)
I would say this Bibigo seaweed is slightly pricey for seaweed at more than 8000 won per packet. You can definitely find lots of other cheaper brands out there, but none as delicious as this Bibigo one.
Buy as many as you can because it’s unlikely you can find it in Singapore (I haven’t)!
This packaging also doesn’t include that bulky, plastic tray that other seaweed brands tend to have. I find this particularly handy, as you can fit them nicely in your luggage.
Market O Real Brownie (Original & Matcha Green Tea)
I first ate the original Market O Real Brownies last December, and found out about the green tea ones only when on my subsequent trip to Korea.
In all honesty, I love matcha and I prefer the green tea ones. If you only had space for one box in your luggage, I would definitely recommend buying the matcha green tea flavour instead of the original.
Honey Butter Chip (Canada Maple Syrup)
If you’re very updated on Korean news, you would have heard about how there was a honey butter chip craze that swept across Korea some time back.
Although honey butter chips are no longer the ‘in’ snack, I still couldn’t resist trying out this special edition chips when I saw it in Daiso. I assume this was a winter special. Plus, it was on sale at just 1000 won!
I found it a bit too sweet for me (imagine how sweet honey butter chips already are, and add another layer of sugar to it from the maple syrup), but you might love this if you have a sweet tooth.
Market O Real Cheese Chips
This is the ultimate snack that will keep you crunching in satisfaction while you binge on K-dramas (am I speaking from experience? Plausibly). The cheese flavour is just right – not too overwhelming, yet not too little that I can’t taste it at all.
Orion Camembert Cheese Cake
My friend recommended that I try this, so I thought okay, it should be quite good if she’s recommending it.
The cheese taste is a bit strong for my liking, but overall I think it’s not a bad snack, just something you would really want to eat in moderation.
Orion Turtle Chips
At some point during your Korea trip, you will probably buy a bag of Turtle Chips “just to try,” and then immediately understand why people end up carrying multiple bags home in their luggage.
What makes Turtle Chips different is the texture. Instead of a normal potato chip crunch, each piece has a layered structure that creates this airy, crisp bite that somehow feels both light and dangerously addictive at the same time. They do not taste particularly heavy, which is exactly why it becomes so easy to keep eating them.
The Corn Soup flavour is still the classic and probably the safest starting point. Slightly sweet, savoury, buttery, and unmistakably Korean convenience-store coded. The Truffle flavour is richer and more divisive, but a lot of tourists end up preferring it. Seasonal flavours also appear regularly, which means you will often see locals bulk-buying limited editions at supermarkets.
One warning though: these crush very easily in luggage. If you plan to bring them home, buy them near the end of your trip and keep them somewhere protected unless you enjoy opening a bag of Turtle Chip dust!
When I first saw this in Lotte Mart, I thought they were taking the salt bread trend a little too far and chuckled. Then I plonked it into my cart, brought it home in my luggage, and realised that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
It basically tastes like someone turned Korea’s salt bread café trend into a crunchy packaged snack.
This is one of those snacks that feels very current Korea. It reflects the café and bakery trends happening in Seoul right now rather than older tourist-classic snacks. Good to try if you’re a salt bread addict like me!
Pepero Special Editions
Most people know Pepero as Korea’s version of a chocolate-coated biscuit stick, but what surprises many tourists is how many variations actually exist once you start browsing Korean convenience stores and supermarkets properly.
The standard chocolate version is everywhere, but the more interesting finds are the seasonal and premium editions. Almond-coated Pepero, nude Pepero, tiramisu flavours, crunchy cookie versions, strawberry yoghurt coatings, oversized gift boxes during Pepero Day season—there is always something slightly different appearing on shelves.
Part of the fun is how deeply embedded Pepero is in Korean culture. Around Pepero Day in November, entire supermarket aisles transform into elaborate gift displays. Even outside the holiday season, convenience stores constantly rotate flavours and collaborations, which makes Pepero surprisingly fun to “collect” during a trip.
They also make extremely practical souvenirs because they are lightweight, individually wrapped, and easy to distribute to friends back home. Just avoid leaving chocolate versions inside warm luggage for too long.
I personally like the fun flavours that you don’t typically found outside in Korea – and so will your friends and family!
Binggrae Banana Milk
There are certain foods that become strangely emotional during travel, and Banana Milk is one of them.
You see it everywhere in Korea. Convenience stores, supermarkets, subway station kiosks, even vending machines. The small rounded bottle has become so iconic that many tourists end up buying one almost immediately after landing, partly out of curiosity and partly because it just feels like a Korea rite of passage.
The drink itself is sweeter and creamier than many people expect. It tastes more nostalgic than natural, in a way that somehow works perfectly. Korean locals often associate it with childhood, school outings, and comfort food memories, which explains why it has remained so popular for decades.
Once you start looking more closely, you will also notice spin-off flavours like melon, strawberry, light versions, and seasonal releases. Convenience stores tend to stock smaller selections, while larger supermarkets like Lotte Mart usually carry more variety.
I used to LOVE the OG banana milk, but these days I find the melon milk just as good, if not even better. Maybe it’s an age thing?
Yakgwa
For years, yakgwa was mostly viewed as a traditional Korean sweet associated with holidays, grandparents, and ceremonial tables. Then suddenly it became trendy again.
Now you see modern yakgwa cafés, premium packaged versions, and convenience stores selling mini yakgwa snacks aimed directly at younger consumers and tourists.
My first experience with yakgwa was actually in one of the teahouses (Jeontong Dawon maybe?), as it’s traditionally paired with tea.
Yakgwa is essentially a deep-fried honey cookie with a dense, syrupy texture that can initially surprise people unfamiliar with Korean traditional sweets. It is richer and heavier than most modern snacks, with a chewy softness that feels very different from cookies or biscuits.
The newer mini packaged versions are especially beginner-friendly and easier to carry home as souvenirs!
Korean Zero Snacks & Sugar-Free Treats
One of the biggest changes in Korean snack culture over the past few years has been the explosion of “zero” products.
You will see zero-sugar chocolate, zero cookies, low-calorie jelly drinks, protein chips, and sugar-free candy almost everywhere. Convenience stores dedicate entire sections to these products now, reflecting Korea’s growing focus on dieting, wellness, and functional snacking.
Some are genuinely good. Others taste very obviously sugar-free. But trying them becomes part of understanding modern Korean food culture, especially if you enjoy seeing how convenience stores reflect broader lifestyle trends.
Cider Jelly
These gummies taste like cider and the packaging looks exactly like a miniature cider can. Way too cute!
Honey Butter Almonds
These honey almonds are probably as famous as choco pies and honey butter chips. They make for a very nice snack, but I think there is more than one brand selling this (and not all taste equally good).
Be a little discerning, especially when it comes to something that is selling at way too cheap in Myeongdong!
Honey Butter Cashewnut
The cashew nut equivalent of the former, which is a great alternative if you’re not so much an almond person.
If you’re not based in Korea, you can still try to buy the Honey Butter Cashewnuts here from Shopee.
Wasabi, Yogurt, Peach, Hot & Spicy Chicken, Laver, Tiramisu Almonds
This is for the people who always complain about you giving them the same honey butter almonds every time you come back from Korea.
I know some of these flavours look slightly dubious (do you really want spicy almonds that remind you of spicy ramen?). The people I gift these almonds to always look at the odd flavours with much suspicion!
However, they are actually more appetising than you imagine. My favourites are the Wasabi and Yogurt ones!
If you’re not based in Korea, you can still try to buy the different-flavoured almonds here from Shopee.
Choco Pie
We all know the traditional ones (which you should definitely check out in Jeonju!). But if you are looking for something more interesting, consider this choco pie that is filled with interesting fillings such as injeolmi and caramel salt.
You can find this brand (Chocopie House) from Lotte Mart ~
Onion Rings
A salty delight that you can find in any convenience store or super mart. Makes for an absolutely great TV companion. Take my word for it.
If you’re not based in Korea, you can still try to buy the onion rings here from Shopee.
I found these vitamin gummies in convenience stores and Lotte Mart as well. Okay to be fair, I bought these because of the cute packaging, but I have to say that they are quite delicious and sweet. I do have to point out though, the Apeach multi-vitamin version tastes a bit strange, but nothing too unpalatable.
If you’re not based in Korea, you can still try to buy the gummies here from Shopee.
Tteok-bokki Gummy
A novelty sweet that should, well, probably just stay as a novelty product.
However, I would still recommend that you buy this as a souvenir for your friends who have always wanted to try this Korean rice cake dish, or are fans of it.
Yogurt Gummy
Most of us in Asia would probably know, and have drunk Yakult before.
This gummy sweet tastes exactly like a sweet, condensed version of our favourite (childhood) drink. It’s slightly more expensive in Singapore, so I definitely recommend you stock up on this in Korea.
Related Posts:
- BUY & TRY: Korea Street Food Guide
- Jeju Food Guide 2024 – Cafes, Restaurants, Markets
- Gwangjang Market: what to eat & buy!
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FAQ: Korea Snacks & Sweets (Buy & Try Guide)
What to buy, where to find it, and what’s actually worth lugging home — tap to expand.
Most of the snacks in this guide are easiest to find at Lotte Mart (one-stop, big selection). A handful of items also pop up at convenience stores—great for “I want one now” cravings or last-minute souvenir runs.
If you’re the type who hates hunting, plan one Lotte Mart haul near the end of your trip and keep a small “snack list” on your phone for convenience store surprises.
If you want the quickest “good chance everyone will like it” shortlist, start here:
- Bibigo Seaweed (돌김) — premium, dangerously snackable
- Market O Real Brownie (Matcha) — the “if you only buy one box” pick
- Market O Real Cheese Chips — crunchy, easy crowd-pleaser
- Honey Butter Almonds (and other fun flavours)
- Yogurt Gummy — tastes like a condensed Yakult-style drink
The guide leans strongly toward matcha green tea (especially if you love matcha). The original is still good, but the matcha version is the “I’d repurchase first” pick.
Practical tip: brownies are one of the safest souvenirs because they travel well and don’t need special storage.
According to the guide: yes. It’s described as noticeably better than cheaper seaweed brands (the kind you keep eating without realising you finished a stack).
It’s also luggage-friendly because the packaging doesn’t come with the bulky plastic tray some seaweed packs have—so you can squeeze more into your suitcase.
Two good directions:
- Honey Butter Chip (Canada Maple Syrup) — extra sweet; best if you have a serious sweet tooth
- Market O Real Cheese Chips — savoury and crunchy with a balanced cheese flavour
The guide mentions spotting the maple syrup edition at Daiso as a special find—so if you love limited or seasonal snacks, keep your eyes open while shopping.
Go for novelty gummies — they’re entertaining, easy to pack, and always start a conversation:
- Tteok-bokki Gummy — the guide calls it more of a novelty (perfect as a prank-ish gift)
- Cider Jelly — cute packaging that looks like a mini cider can
If you’re gifting coworkers, these are perfect “small but memorable” desk snacks.
Korea’s flavoured nuts are a whole genre. The guide recommends:
- Honey Butter Almonds
- Honey Butter Cashewnut
- Other fun almond flavours like wasabi, yogurt, peach, hot & spicy chicken, laver, tiramisu (great for variety packs)
Tip: nuts are heavy-ish, so they’re best if you have luggage allowance (or you’re flying with a checked bag anyway).
Yes — the guide highlights Calbee Takoyaki Balls as surprisingly addictive (salty, flavourful, hard to stop eating). It’s also described as a great value buy, which makes it a fun “why is this so good?” snack.
The easy pick is Yogurt Gummy — the guide says it tastes like a sweet, condensed version of a Yakult-style yogurt drink.
If you’re comparing prices, the guide also suggests it’s often cheaper to stock up in Korea than buying it back home.
Usually yes — packaged snacks and sweets are popular souvenirs. The important bit is to check your home country’s import rules, especially for any items that contain meat, fresh ingredients, or unusual additives.
If you want the safest route: stick to sealed cookies/brownies/chips, seaweed, nuts, and factory-packaged gummies.
A simple snack-packing method that works:
- Put chips and fragile boxes (like brownies) in the middle of your suitcase
- Surround them with soft items (clothes, scarves, jackets)
- Keep gummies and nuts near the top—they’re more crush-proof
- For seaweed, flat packs are easiest—slide them along the “walls” of your luggage
Yes — the post mentions the list isn’t exhaustive and will be updated over time with more snack finds. If you’re a repeat Korea visitor, it’s worth bookmarking and checking back before each trip.
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