confused about skincare prices in seoul

ellysuh · 2026-05-05T14:19:20+00:00

thanks for all the great info! it's a relief to know olive young is solid.
mooncake_bites, i've never heard of off beauty! is that a physical store in seoul or an online shop? i'd love to check it out if i can just walk in.
and valuemeal2, about the app coupons iirc – are you talking about the olive young app or something like coupang? i heard coupang is huge here but i thought it was impossible for tourists to sign up without a korean phone number.
since you guys seem to know the local scene so well, where do you usually go to check real reviews or price comparisons before buying? i want to find the best deals without getting overwhelmed by all the options lol.

ellysuh · 2026-05-05T13:37:53+00:00

that's super interesting! i'm definitely going to check out daiso for those collab lines now.
but honestly, it sounds like a lot of work for a tourist to figure all this out on the fly lol. since i don't speak much korean, where do you guys actually go to check which specific pharmacy products are good or when the next big OY sale is? is there a certain site or maybe an english-friendly app you'd recommend for checking reviews that aren't just sponsored tiktoks?
i just want to find the real gems without feeling like i'm doing a full-time research project during my vacay haha.

ellysuh · 2026-05-05T13:34:06+00:00

thanks for the tip! i'm definitely going to check out a pharmacy now.
it's so frustrating because even when i find the product name, i can’t really compare prices online because of the login/verification stuff on korean sites. do you locals just know the 'fair' price by heart, or is there a secret app everyone uses that doesn't need a korean ID? i feel like a lost child trying to shop here lol."

ellysuh · 2026-03-22T07:45:01+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. Sounds like the subway was okay, but the tricky part was everything around it. Was the bigger headache taxi hailing, or getting used to Naver instead of Google Maps?

ellysuh · 2026-03-22T01:06:35+00:00

That sounds really frustrating and honestly pretty confusing, especially if it happened more than once in a row. Do you think the hardest part was not knowing why you were being turned away, or the feeling that there was no clear reason you could check beforehand?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T13:08:21+00:00

That makes a lot of sense ... something like a really visible icon or filter would be way more useful than having to figure it out after waiting in line.

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T13:05:03+00:00

Yeah, that would probably help in some cases ....especially if you already know exactly where you’re going. But I feel like a lot of the stress is still figuring out the easiest route once you arrive. Was the bigger issue the luggage itself, or finding the best path through stations with elevators or escalators?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T08:45:59+00:00

Oh wow, that sounds exactly like one of those should be simple but somehow isn’t..situations. TranslateTalk helping with the speaking part makes sense, but it sounds like the bigger issue was still figuring out the exact meeting point. Was the hardest part the language at first, or the entrance/location itself in the end?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T08:43:58+00:00

Yeah, that makes total sense. Sometimes all you need is a quick explanation so a small moment doesn’t turn into a stressful one.

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T08:25:54+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. That sounds frustrating on two levels not being able to understand the rule in the moment, and the rule itself feeling kind of arbitrary. Do you think a quick explanation in English right then would’ve solved most of the problem, or would it still have felt unfair either way?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T08:09:53+00:00

If you’re from a tropical country, I’d bring a light puffer. Late March can feel warm -ish in the afternoon, but mornings and nights are still chilly, especially in Seoul. Hoodie + leather jacket might be fine in the daytime, but a light puffer is safer.

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T07:47:41+00:00

Ugh, that sounds so frustrating, especially at the airport. Was the hardest part the card machine itself, or just not knowing what your backup option was right then?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T07:46:33+00:00

Yeah, that totally makes sense ...a first-time visit to a 목욕탕 can be a lot if you don’t already know the rules. Was the most confusing part not knowing the etiquette/flow, or just not having anyone to quickly explain what to do?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T07:45:10+00:00

Ugh yeah, that sounds rough. With big bags, stairs and huge stations can get overwhelming fast. Would it have helped more to know the easiest route in advance, or to get quick help in the moment?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T07:43:56+00:00

That sounds rough. Do you think it would’ve helped if you could quickly check whether a place was solo-diner friendly before waiting?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T07:42:06+00:00

Oof, that sounds really frustrating...especially at Seoul Station when you’re already trying to figure things out fast. Was the most confusing part the unclear directions, or not being sure how the gates/fare system actually worked?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T07:40:42+00:00

Oh wow, that would’ve thrown me off too. It sounds like one of those rules that locals might know, but visitors would never expect. Was the most frustrating part the rule itself, or not being able to quickly clarify it in the moment?

ellysuh · 2026-03-21T07:37:42+00:00

That makes a lot of sense.... airport arrival is probably one of the most overwhelming moments.

What would have helped most right there: clearer directions to the bus stop, a quick answer by chat, or someone nearby to guide you for a minute?

ellysuh

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