Olive Young vs Daiso: Where to Buy K-Beauty Smart in Seoul

Olive Young vs Daiso is the question many visitors ask on their first K-beauty shopping day in Seoul. Both stores are everywhere, both sell skincare and makeup, and the price difference can be huge. A sheet mask might cost ₩1,000 at one and ₩3,000 at the other, so it’s natural to wonder where your money goes further.

The short answer: they’re good at different things. Olive Young is Korea’s biggest beauty retailer, with popular brands, testers and regular sales. Daiso is a budget variety store where nearly everything is priced between ₩500 and ₩5,000, including a growing range of Daiso-only skincare lines from well-known Korean brands.

This guide compares the two side by side, explains what’s worth buying at each, covers tax refund rules for visitors, and shows how to shop both in one easy route.

olive young vs daiso shopping in myeongdong — One bag for bestsellers, one for bargains

🛍️ Olive Young vs Daiso at a Glance

	Olive Young	Daiso
What it is	Korea’s largest health and beauty store	Budget variety store with a beauty section
Typical skincare price	₩10,000–40,000 (about $7–29)	₩1,000–5,000 (about $0.70–3.60)
Brands	Hundreds of popular K-beauty brands	Daiso-only lines, often from known brands
Testers	Yes, in most stores	Limited
Sales	Big sales four times a year, plus monthly deals	Fixed low prices, few sales
Best for	Proven bestsellers, sets and gifts	Trying new things, travel sizes and tools

💚 What to Buy at Olive Young

Sunscreen: The widest range in one place. Our Olive Young sunscreen guide helps you pick by skin type.
Toner pads, serums and ampoules: Popular brands, often in value sets with a refill. See our Korean toner pad picks.
Gift sets: Holiday sets and bundles that look good as presents.
Makeup you want to test first: Lip tints and cushions are easier to choose with testers.

💛 What to Buy at Daiso Korea

Sheet masks: Many cost around ₩1,000 (about $0.70), so you can stock up for friends.
Daiso-only skincare lines: Some Korean brands make smaller or simplified versions just for Daiso. Formulas and sizes can differ from the regular version, so check the label.
Beauty tools: Puffs, brushes, hair clips and cotton pads at very low prices.
Travel items: Refillable bottles, pouches and zip bags for packing your haul.

For a deeper look, see our Daiso Korea guide.

⚖️ Olive Young vs Daiso: Where Each One Wins

Price: Daiso, especially for masks, tools and trial sizes.
Choice and trusted bestsellers: Olive Young.
Gifts: Olive Young for sets, Daiso for small add-ons and fillers.
Trying something new with low risk: Daiso. If you love it, buy the full-size version at Olive Young later.

For most visitors, Olive Young vs Daiso isn’t either-or. A simple rule many use: buy what you already know you love at Olive Young, and experiment at Daiso.

korean skincare haul from olive young and daiso korea — The haul: half splurge, half steal

💳 Tax Refund at Olive Young and Daiso

Bring your passport to both. Participating stores in tourist areas offer an instant tax refund at the counter.
Minimum spend: Usually from about ₩15,000 (about $11) per receipt at participating stores.
Look for the “Tax Free” sign. Not every branch participates.
Keep your receipts in case you’re asked at the airport.

🗺️ Shop Both in One Easy Route

Myeongdong: Daiso’s large multi-floor store and Olive Young’s flagship are a short walk apart, making it the easiest area to compare.
Seongsu: Start at Olive Young N Seongsu, then visit a nearby Daiso for tools and travel bottles.
Hongdae: Smaller stores, but plenty of both within a few blocks.

Tip: Go to Olive Young first to see what’s trending, then head to Daiso to fill your basket with extras.

🎁 Turn a Clinic Visit into Shopping Vouchers

If you’re also planning a skin treatment in Korea, YeoTi’s Smart Refund can stretch your shopping budget. Eligible foreign visitors who book a partner clinic through YeoTi can get 5% of the treatment payment back as a mobile gift card that works at Olive Young, Daiso and major convenience stores. Learn how it works in our Smart Refund guide.

❓ FAQ

Q1. Olive Young vs Daiso: which is cheaper?
- Daiso is usually cheaper, with most items priced between ₩500 and ₩5,000. Olive Young can be competitive during big sales.
Q2. Are Daiso skincare products the same as the brand’s regular products?
- Not always. Daiso-only versions can have different sizes or formulas, so check the label.
Q3. Can foreigners get a tax refund at Daiso Korea?
- Yes, at participating stores, usually for purchases from about ₩15,000 per receipt. Bring your passport.
Q4. Where can I shop at both Olive Young and Daiso in one trip?
- Myeongdong is the easiest, with large stores of both a short walk apart.
Q5. Can I use YeoTi Smart Refund vouchers at Olive Young and Daiso?
- Yes. Smart Refund gift cards can be used at Olive Young, Daiso and major convenience stores.

👉 [YeoTi × CJ ONE: More perks for K-Beauty & K-Lifestyle. Check them out!]