Korean Convenience Stores: Why GS25 and CU Are Worth Visiting

I stop at a convenience store on the way home maybe four nights a week. This is not unusual behavior here. In Korea, convenience stores are not just for emergencies — they’re legitimately part of daily life in a way that’s hard to explain to people from places where convenience stores are sort of last-resort situations.

GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24, and a few others are everywhere in Seoul. Like, between-every-two-buildings everywhere. GS25 and CU are probably the two you’ll interact with most.

What’s Actually Good to Buy

Convenience Store Meals

The hot food section near the register is where most of the action is. You’ll see rotating heated trays and a display case. Common items:

Samgak gimbap (삼각김밥) — triangle rice balls wrapped in seaweed with various fillings: tuna mayo, bulgogi, spicy pork, kimchi. Price is usually 1,200–1,800 won each. These are breakfast for a lot of Seoul office workers including me when I’m running late. There’s a folding/peeling process to open them — there’s a numbered pull system on the packaging. #1, then #2, then #3.

Cup ramyeon — instant ramen in a cup, which you make with the hot water dispenser they have (it’s free, it’s right there). Around 1,200–1,800 won. There’s a small eating area in most convenience stores — plastic stools and a counter — specifically for this. You eat standing or semi-sitting while staring at your phone.

Onigiri and sandwiches — more Japanese-style options, but they exist. Egg salad sandwich is a solid choice if you’re in a hurry. Around 2,500–3,500 won.

Drinks

The drink selection is genuinely large. Some things worth knowing:

Boricha (보리차) — barley tea, usually unsweetened. Looks like brown water, tastes mild and roasted. It’s in the cold drink section next to the water. Around 1,500 won. I drink this constantly. Non-caffeinated if you’re avoiding coffee late.

Banana milk (바나나우유) — the famous Binggrae brand in the barrel-shaped bottle. It’s sweet and banana-flavored in a nostalgic way. Around 1,200 won. This is one of those things that I’m not sure how to explain in English, but it has a specific emotional quality here — you’ll see adults and kids both buying it with equal enthusiasm.

Convenience store coffee — CU and GS25 both have coffee machines (GS25’s “Cafe25,” CU’s “HEYROO”). Americano is usually 1,000–1,500 won. Honestly better than expected. I use these frequently when I don’t want to wait at a cafe.

Soju and beer — yes, they sell alcohol, until 11pm. A bottle of Jinro or Chamisul soju is around 1,700–2,000 won. That’s cheaper than most restaurants charge by 50–100%. A 500ml can of beer runs 2,000–3,000 won.

Snacks

Haechandle (해찬들) spicy squid chips, Honey Butter chips (which caused an actual shortage when they launched years ago — it’s kind of a big deal here culturally), Choco Pie, various flavors of Pepero sticks. The snack aisle is worth a slow browse.

New seasonal flavors come out constantly. GS25 especially does collaborations and limited editions with K-pop groups, games, cartoons. Some of this is marketing, some of it is genuinely different flavors. If something looks unusual or has packaging you don’t recognize, it might be a limited run worth trying before it disappears.

Practical Supplies

Painkillers, antacids, band-aids, phone charger cables, travel adapters, disposable razors, toothbrushes, condoms — all here. The pharmacy section is small but adequate for basic travel needs.

Umbrellas are sold at the register for around 3,000–5,000 won when it rains. This is useful information for a country where weather can shift fast.

How Eating at the Convenience Store Works

Almost every GS25 and CU has a small eating area with at least a counter and a few stools. Some have actual tables. You heat your food in the microwave (it’s available, free to use, usually in a corner), make your ramen at the hot water station, and sit down.

There’s no time pressure. Nobody is going to rush you out. I’ve eaten full meals here — two samgak gimbap, a cup of ramen, a bottle of tea — for around 5,000–6,000 won total, sitting down, taking 20 minutes. This is a valid lunch strategy in Seoul.

The counter culture here is real. When I first started eating at convenience stores regularly after moving to my current apartment, I was surprised to find regulars — the same faces at the same hours. It’s quiet, efficient, no judgment.

The Points System

CU has a points app (BGF Retail’s “CU app”). GS25 has “GS&Point.” If you’re staying in Seoul for more than a few days, downloading one of these apps is genuinely worth it — you accumulate points and can occasionally get free items. The app is in Korean but the registration process is manageable.

Alternatively, just don’t bother. The savings are marginal if you’re only here for a week. But if you’re here for a month, it adds up to maybe a few free drinks.

GS25 vs CU — Is There a Difference?

Honestly, they’re similar. GS25’s coffee machine (Cafe25) has a slight edge in my opinion. CU tends to have slightly better prepared food options in my neighborhood — but this varies by location and what the individual store prioritizes. There are neighborhoods where one brand dominates and you just end up using whatever’s closest.

7-Eleven is also common and carries some exclusive products. Emart24 is the same Emart supermarket brand and tends to feel slightly more grocery-focused with larger produce and fresh food sections.

My biggest mistake in the first year of relying on convenience stores heavily was not realizing that the prepared food quality varies a lot by how recently they stocked it. Samgak gimbap that’s been sitting since the morning is noticeably different from fresh stock that came in at noon. Check the timestamp on the packaging.

24 Hours, Every Day

Opens always. Closes never. This is worth stating because in Seoul it genuinely matters — there are times, usually late on a weeknight or very early on a weekend morning, when the only commercial establishment visibly operating is the convenience store on the corner. Staffed, lights on, coffee machine working.

If you’re jet-lagged at 4am and hungry and don’t know what to do — convenience store. It’s warm. There’s food. Nobody will bother you.

Last verified: May 2026. Information confirmed through direct experience and current sources. Something changed? Leave a comment and I’ll update it.

About Jay Han
Jay has lived in Seoul for over 10 years and works as a marketing professional. He started Korea Hub to share the kind of honest, specific information he wishes he’d had when navigating Korean culture, food, and travel for the first time. Not a travel blogger — just someone who actually lives here.
GS25 and CU are where I buy breakfast most mornings. The triangle kimbap with tuna has been my default for longer than I’d like to admit.
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