There’s a store in Korea that I visit more often
than I’d like to admit.
It’s not a department store. It’s not a
fancy boutique. It’s Daiso — and it is,
without question, one of the most
fascinating retail experiences in the country.
Let me show you around.
What Is Daiso?
Daiso (다이소) is a Korean discount chain store
that sells just about everything you could
ever need for daily life — at a maximum price
of 5,000 won per item (approximately $3.50 USD).
Everything. Maximum 5,000 won.
Kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, stationery,
camping gear, gardening tools, bathroom
accessories, car accessories, computer
accessories, seasonal decorations,
even small electronics.
If you need it for everyday life, Daiso
probably has it. If they don’t have it,
you probably don’t need it.
The Numbers Are Staggering
Daiso started with a single store in
Cheonho-dong, eastern Seoul, back in 1997.
Today, it operates approximately 1,600 stores
across Korea — meaning there’s almost certainly
a Daiso within walking distance of wherever
you’re standing right now.
And the business is booming.
In 2024, Daiso recorded revenues of 4.53
trillion won (approximately $3 billion USD) —
its highest ever — up 13.4% from the
previous year. Operating profit hit
442.4 billion won, up 19.2%.
Here’s the irony: the worse Korea’s economy
gets, the better Daiso does.
When inflation rises and household budgets
tighten, people don’t stop shopping —
they just shop smarter. And Daiso is
the smartest place to shop in Korea.
The Price Structure
Over 80% of Daiso’s products are priced
below 2,000 won.
The full pricing tier goes like this:
500 won / 1,000 won / 1,500 won /
2,000 won / 3,000 won / 5,000 won.
That’s it. No surprises at the register.
You can walk in with 30,000 won —
fill both hands with items —
and still have change left over.
A Personal Tour
I’ve been a Daiso regular for years.
When I was camping regularly, Daiso was my
first stop before every trip — affordable
cooking tools, storage containers,
lighting accessories.
These days, I have small plants growing
on my office windowsill, so I visit mostly
for gardening supplies — tiny pots,
soil, plant labels, watering tools.
All from Daiso. All under 5,000 won each.
And this keyboard I’m typing on right now?
Yes, that’s a 5,000-won Daiso keyboard.
Does it feel like a premium mechanical
keyboard? Absolutely not.
Does it work perfectly fine for everyday
typing? Yes. Yes it does.
The “Daiso Effect”
Here’s something interesting I’ve noticed
over the years.
Products that become popular at Daiso often
eventually graduate to mainstream supermarkets
and department stores — at significantly
higher prices.
Daiso, in a sense, acts as a proving ground
for everyday products. If something sells
well at 1,000 won, the market pays attention.
It’s not official company policy —
just a pattern I’ve noticed as a longtime
regular. Consider it the Korean uncle’s
unofficial retail theory. 😄
Why Tourists MUST Visit Daiso
If you’re planning a trip to Korea,
put Daiso on your itinerary.
I’m serious.
Daiso is one of the best places to pick up
affordable Korean souvenirs, travel
accessories, and unique everyday items
that you won’t easily find back home.
Travel-sized toiletries. Cute stationery.
Useful kitchen gadgets. Seasonal Korean items.
All for under $3.50 each.
And just wandering the aisles is genuinely
entertaining — you’ll constantly find things
you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.
Korean Uncle’s Verdict
Daiso is not glamorous. It’s not trendy.
It won’t make your Instagram look luxurious.
But it is genuinely one of the most useful,
most democratic, and most uniquely Korean
retail experiences available.
Rich or struggling, young or old, local or
tourist — everyone shops at Daiso.
In a country where the cost of living keeps
rising, Daiso remains the one place where
your wallet always feels safe.
Just don’t go in with a list.
You’ll always leave with more than you planned.
See you in the next post,
Korean Uncle 🇰🇷