Learn KOREAN by Topic┃#5 한국 상점

Learn KOREAN by Topic┃#5 한국 상점

Korean Podcast for Beginners┃Ep5. 한국 상점

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▶ Download the original text in Korean 🇰🇷📝

【PDF】Korean Podcast for Beginners┃Ep4. 한국 대학교.pdf

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📢 The following translations are for the purpose of comprehension only
      (not exhaustive version).

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Learn KOREAN by Topic┃#5 한국 상점

After having lunch and taking a walk around the school campus, I realized it was already 4 p.m. Now that I'm about to start a new life in Korea, I feel like I need to buy some essential items. Bringing all the necessary items from Mexico would make my luggage heavier and more inconvenient, so I decided to purchase basic household goods in Korea.

 

When Koreans buy household goods, they usually go to supermarkets, convenience stores, large marts, or department stores. Supermarkets are small shops operated by individuals in the neighborhood, while convenience stores are modern stores that operate 24/7 and can be found easily anywhere.

 

Large marts are bigger in scale and offer a wider variety of products at cheaper prices compared to convenience stores. They often have various discount events, making them the most frequently visited places for locals to shop. Large marts are usually located near subway stations and in densely populated areas.

 

 

Department stores are preferred for purchasing famous brand products or high-quality items. In addition, department stores often have movie theaters and many restaurants, so they are more crowded on weekends.

 

To buy a variety of items at affordable prices, I went to a mart near the dormitory. The store was spacious and had a wide range of products, so I took my time exploring each section and putting the desired items in my cart. I first selected essentials like toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, body wash, and water.

 

I also picked up milk, cereal, and fruits for breakfast. Since the mart is conveniently located near the dormitory and school, I can always come back later to buy any additional items I may need, so for today, I decided to just get these.

 

 

 

Now I have to go to the checkout counter, but I'm a bit worried that I won't understand what the cashier is saying, like in restaurants. However, when I went to pay, I found that there were cashiers available to assist customers, as well as self-checkout counters where you can handle the payment yourself. There were plenty of empty self-checkout counters, so I chose to use one.

 

I had the option to select either Korean or English, and since I'm more proficient in English, I chose English and followed the instructions provided. All I had to do was scan the barcode of each item using the barcode reader at the checkout counter, which made the process really simple. Additionally, there were staff members around the checkout area who could assist if I didn't know how to proceed.

 

Finally, I made the payment with my credit card and took the receipt. Then I put the purchased items into the bag I brought and left. In most Korean marts, they encourage customers to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags, so they don't provide plastic bags, and instead, customers are expected to bring their own bags from home.

 

 

Even at convenience stores, if you need a plastic bag, you have to pay an additional fee to purchase one. Other than the fact that self-checkout counters are widely used and plastic bags are not provided, there don't seem to be many differences compared to marts in Mexico or other countries.

 

Now that I have bought everything I needed, I'm going back to the dormitory to organize my belongings and take a little rest. After relaxing for a while, I plan to meet up with my Mexican friend who is studying abroad at another university. We'll have dinner together and maybe enjoy some drinks. While sharing drinks, I am going to ask my friend about Korean alcohol and the drinking culture in Korea.