The Best Daiso Stores to Visit in Seoul and Busan

1. Daiso is a Korean store chain for everyday goods, beauty items and snacks, with more than 1,600 locations.
2. In Seoul, try the 12-floor Myeongdong Station store, the Gangnam Station store and the Homeplus Sangbong store. In Busan, head to Haeundae Marine City or the Hanaro Mart Hwamyeong store, and add the beauty-focused Konkuk store if you want cosmetics.
3. Most stores are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., hours vary by store, and some stores offer tax refunds.

You'll see a Daiso (다이소) sign several times a day in Korea. Near subway stations, in neighborhood shopping buildings, even inside big supermarkets. There are more than 1,600 of them.

For a traveler, though, which Daiso you walk into matters a lot. A small neighborhood shop and a store that takes up a whole building don't carry the same range. Here are the ones in Seoul and Busan that are worth going out of your way for. If you want the basics first, start with What Is Daiso Korea?

Which Daiso Stores Are Worth Visiting in Seoul?

The three best Daiso stores in Seoul for travelers are the Myeongdong Station store, the Gangnam Station store and the Homeplus Sangbong store. Each suits a different kind of trip.

Myeongdong Station Store

The Myeongdong Station store is the Daiso most foreign visitors end up at, and it takes over the whole building from the 1st floor to the 12th. It isn't the biggest Daiso in Seoul by floor area, but it's the best known among tourists. At night every floor glows, which has earned it the nickname "the lighthouse of Myeongdong."

Each floor has its own product category, so finding things is easy. The 1st floor has seasonal items and the registers, the 2nd has beauty and fashion accessories, floors 3 and 4 are stationery, and the 5th is snacks and food. Above that you'll find kitchen, bath, interior, gardening and hobby goods. Next to the elevator, there are floor guides in English, Japanese and Chinese.

The elevator line is almost always long. Ride up to the top floor, then walk down one floor at a time as you browse. You pay once, at the registers on the 1st floor.

Gangnam Station Store

The Gangnam Station store is a large Daiso on Gangnam-daero that opened in September 2025, with a floor area in the 500-pyeong range. It has fewer floors than Myeongdong, but the wide space and generous displays make it feel calmer than the Myeongdong crowds.

If you already have shopping or a meal planned around Gangnam Station, it's an easy stop to add.

Homeplus Sangbong Store

The Homeplus (홈플러스) Sangbong store in Jungnang-gu is the biggest Daiso in Seoul. It ranks 3rd in the nationwide store-size ranking Daiso has published.

It sits inside a Homeplus hypermarket, so it's a bit far from the usual tourist areas. But if you want to see the whole Daiso lineup, it's worth the trip. It was also the first Daiso to open a beauty showroom, and the extra space allows themed corners for each category and a spot to take a break. You can get there by subway, since it's between Sangbong and Mangu stations.

This table compares the three Seoul stores by highlights and who they suit.

Is There a Daiso Just for Beauty Products in Seoul?

Yes. The Konkuk University area has Daiso's first beauty-focused store, where 80% of the roughly 1,800 products are beauty items. It opened at Konkuk University Station in late August 2026.

From the outside it looks like any other Daiso. The rest of the range leans toward things close to beauty, like health supplements and hygiene products.

The store is small, around 20 pyeong. Still, word got around that popular beauty items that sell out elsewhere are easier to find here. If there's a Daiso cosmetic you've been hunting for and every store you tried was out, put Konkuk on your list.

It's a 2-minute walk from Konkuk University Station, at the entrance of Konkuk Rodeo Street. For now, it's the only beauty-focused Daiso.

Which Daiso Stores Are Worth Visiting in Busan?

The best Daiso stores in Busan are the Haeundae Marine City store, the Seomyeon 2 store and the Hanaro Mart Hwamyeong store. If you only have time for one, pick Haeundae Marine City.

Haeundae Marine City Store

The Haeundae Marine City store opened in December 2024 inside Haeundae I'Park, and its roughly 600 pyeong all sit on a single floor. You don't have to go up and down, which makes browsing easy, and many reviews say the cosmetics section is good. It pairs well with a stroll on Haeundae Beach or around Marine City.

Seomyeon 2 Store

Seomyeon, Busan's biggest downtown shopping district, has a multi-floor Daiso too. Floors are split by category, and it's right in the middle of the Seomyeon shopping streets, so it's easy to reach. If you're already shopping or eating in Seomyeon, it's a natural stop.

Hanaro Mart Hwamyeong Store

The Hanaro Mart (하나로마트) Busan Hwamyeong store, which opened in 2025, is the biggest Daiso in Busan. It ranks 8th in Daiso's nationwide store-size ranking, and it's the only Busan store in the top 10.

It's in Hwamyeong-dong, Buk-gu, away from the usual tourist routes. But if you want to see Busan's largest Daiso in person, it's worth a visit.

This table sums up the three Busan stores in short.

What Should You Know Before Visiting Daiso?

Before you go, check the store's hours, ask about tax refunds, and expect stock to differ from store to store. Most Daiso stores are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stores inside big supermarkets or shopping malls sometimes follow the building's hours, so check a map app or the Daiso app first. Some stores also close on the actual days of Seollal and Chuseok.

Tax refunds are worth knowing about too. Some Daiso stores, including the Myeongdong and Myeongdong Station stores, are registered for them. The tax refund kiosk inside the store doesn't hand you cash. It approves your refund, and you finish the actual refund at the airport or similar. So don't panic if no money comes out.

Stock varies as well. Something missing at one store is often on the shelf at another, so regulars sometimes hit two or three stores during a trip. If it's a beauty product you're after, the Konkuk store is a good place to start.

This table lists the main points to check before you go.

What Can You Do If Your Suitcase Is Full?

You can order Daiso items from overseas through the Daiso Store on Delivered Korea. Most people run into the same problem after a Daiso trip. You bought more than you planned and the suitcase is full, or you get home and think, "I should've bought that too."

The Daiso Store lets you order the Daiso products you didn't get to buy on your trip, from abroad, and receive them together with your other purchases. For the step-by-step, see How to Buy from Daiso Korea When You Live Overseas.