Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hyeon Een]

What products are good value for money in Korea?

I'll start it off by mentioning Kimbab. I've been assured by my students that, once upon a time, it cost about 1,200 or even 2,000won a roll.

Then all of a sudden, about ten years ago, it dropped to 1,000won a roll. It stayed at 1,000won a roll until about 20 minutes ago. Well... that's an exageration, but it increased relatively recently. And not everywehere. Anyway, in Seoul, it is common to pay 1,300 or 1,500 won for a roll of standard kimbab now. The price jumped up like a hyeana would if you stabbed a claymore in it's backside. By that I mean suddenly. But 1,000won kimbab are still available in many places despite the loss the adjumma are making on every last roll.

I still think that a box of mandarins from the back of a truck for $5 is good value, but that is only a seasonal thing and can not be relied on throughout the year. Also, those oranges are probably stolen.

What do you regard as perennial good value items in Korea? Seasonal fruit are excepted. Obviously.

[Thunndarr]

Brita water filter and Kenwood filter refills.

6 refill cartridges last approx. 1 year and cost roughly 30k won, IIRC. And you never need to wake up with a raging hangover and realize you are out of water again.

French press and Costco ground coffee. A large can of coffee goes for around 12k won, and a decent sized French press goes for 20-30k. It'll pay for itself in a couple days.

Lamb from the foreign market in Itaewon. I can't remember the exact price, but it's easily the cheapest meat in Korea.

[Dazed and Confused]

Carrots. They are CHEAP in Korea and good for you too. Can be eaten in hundreds of different ways and make almost anything taste better.

Tofu. Again, CHEAP in Korea and good for you. Can be used in many recipes and a good substitute for meat.

Roater's Bean Coffee-22,000/kg. Cheaper than Costco and better tasting.

Apples and Mandarines-a good price at this time of year.

Cabbage-Again, CHEAP in Korea and good for you.

Bread, Black Olives, Dill Pickles, dental floss at Costco-Cheaper than most places

Chopped Onions mixed with relish, mustard and ketchup at the snack bar at Costco-FREE! makes a great side dish and can be eaten with anything!

Almost any service-hair cuts, car repairs, cleaning ladies, dry cleaning, tailors, etc...

Medical care-Compared to the US, Korea wins hands down.

[madoka]

[aka Dave]

Cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, kale, and the like - are reasonable. If you go to the pork section of some small supermarkets , you can get lean pork tenderloin for very cheap, I got 750 g for under 5k won, and it was enough for 3 meals if you add lots of vegetables. Make sure they cut it thick and braise it for about 10 minutes after browning it (don't need to use oil). If you cut it thin it will dry out. But if you braise it and let it rest five minutes it will be as juicy as a fatty tenderloin steak.

Mushrooms, alas, seem way overpriced, same with bell peppers. But garlic and onion are cheap and prepared (I love that).

Another pro tip I learned. If you buy the store's homemade kimchi, it won't be cut (un-cut is *better* I think). But you can have the ajumma cut it for you. Same with any cut of meat, like the packaged chicken breast (also cheap). Bean sprouts are healthy and cheap.

[Xuanzang]

[chevro1et]

[Straphanger]

I second the cabbage, but other than that, you can't buy your veggies from a supermarket. I can get several pounds of tomatoes for the cost of a three-pack at the supermarket. Buy what's in season, buy local, and have a Korean handy. It gives you a discount.

[John_ESL_White]

Fresh fish, shellfish, cephalopods... so cheap... at least here near the coast....