subject: Korean Supermarkets: Better Than A Tourist Spot [print this page] If you find yourself moving to South Korea, either to teach English, or just to travel the country for a bit, you should definitely visit a Korean supermarket. Shopping for groceries in Korea is quite a different experience than what you're probably used to back home. Here are a few things you should be aware of when you go shopping:
1) Crowds like you've never seen them. Or, let me correct that: you've seen crowds like this before Thanksgiving. But big crowds are a part of Korean supermarkets all year round. What's really cool about the crowded supermarkets, though, is that the shopping carts are built to handle the crowds. This means that you cart doesn't only go front and back, but left and right as well. So, if you find yourself stuck behind a slow walker, or someone who just abruptly stops to look at the fish, you can easily side step them with your carts. Awesome!
2) Free samples galore. Feeling hungry, but you're on a tight budget? Go to a supermarket and eat more than you can possibly handle. We're talking about free samples of fruits, milk, cheese, yoghurt, steak (yes, steak), donuts, and more. And there's also no need to worry about that pesky one-sample-per-person rule. In Korea, you'll find lots of people snapping up a bunch of samples, so don't feel ashamed to do the same.
3) Get ready for some noise. Forget about the peaceful shopping music you might be used to. Instead of music, get used to shouting. Lots of shouting. Men shouting. They'll shout from across the store, just to let you know about the sale. MEAT SALE! DELICIOUS MEAT SALE! COME HERE NOW AND GET THIS REALLY DELICIOUS MEAT ON SALE! You'll know about the sale without even reading a sign about it. That's these men's jobs. And it's not as easy as just going to the meat sale and grabbing some: there'll be a line of people waiting to get their's (remember the big crowds?). So wait in line to get a product, and then wait in another line to pay for it. Yikes!
Now, these are only a few things you can experience at a Korean Supermarket, but there's a world more to discover. Cute costumes like you've never seen them, and in store TV ads on little LCD TVs in the aisles. But let's not spoil all the secrets here. Check out a Korean Supermarket when you get a chance, and you'll see for yourself.
