How to Use Korean Convenience Stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven)

CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and emart24 are on almost every street in Korea, and many stay open around the clock. They are where you grab breakfast, a cheap late-night meal, a transit card top-up or a phone charger. Here is how paying works, how to use the hot water and microwave, what to eat, and the small manners locals follow.

How to pay

• Cards: most stores take international Visa and Mastercard cards; tap or insert at the counter terminal.
• Transit cards: T-money and WOWPASS can pay for purchases in many stores — handy when you only have small change.
• Cash: always works. Staff hand coins back on the tray.
• Promotions: stickers such as “1+1” or “2+1” mean you get the extra item free — pick up the full set before you pay.

See paying in Korea for cards, mobile wallets and cash in general.

Ready meals worth trying

• Triangle kimbap (samgak gimbap): rice triangles with a filling. Follow the numbered tabs on the wrapper — pull the middle strip down, then each side — so the seaweed stays crisp.
• Dosirak (lunch boxes): rice with several side dishes; heat them in the store microwave.
• Cup ramyeon: fill with the free hot water to the line inside the cup and wait a few minutes with the lid closed.
• Snacks and drinks: banana milk, coffee in pouches with an ice cup, and seasonal sweets.

Hot water and microwaves

Most stores have a hot water dispenser and a microwave near the window counter, free for customers. Remove foil lids and metal before you heat anything, and follow the heating time printed on the pack. If the microwave has several buttons, ask staff — they deal with this all day.

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T-money cards and top-ups

You can buy a T-money card and top it up at the counter: hand over the card, say how much you want to add and pay. Top-ups at the counter are usually paid in cash, so keep some notes. The card then works on subways, buses and many taxis across the country.

Official source: VISITKOREA

Which card to get, and how transfers work: Seoul subway & T-money.

Other services

• Parcels: many stores handle domestic parcel sending and pickup. What visitors can use depends on the service, so ask staff.
• Lockers and luggage: some stores and stations have lockers; availability differs by location.
• ATMs: many stores have an ATM. Look for one that says it accepts foreign cards.
• Medicine: a small range of basic household medicines is sold in many stores. For anything else, see pharmacies and clinics.
• Chargers and essentials: phone cables, umbrellas, toiletries and socks are easy to find.

Etiquette

• Eat at the window counter or the tables outside, then clear your table.
• Sort rubbish: liquid into the sink or bucket if there is one, cups, cans and general waste into their bins.
• Staff may ask for ID when you buy alcohol or tobacco — carry your passport.
• Keep the noise down at outside tables late at night; people live upstairs.

Last checked: October 2026. Shops, services and rules change — check the official source or ask staff before you rely on them.

FAQ

Are Korean convenience stores open 24 hours?

Many are, especially in cities, but some close at night — check the door or a map app.

Can I use a foreign credit card at CU or GS25?

Most stores accept international Visa and Mastercard cards. Cash and transit cards like T-money also work.

Can I top up T-money with a card at a convenience store?

Top-ups at the counter are usually paid in cash. Some stations have machines with other options.

Is the hot water in Korean convenience stores free?

Yes. The hot water dispenser and microwave are free for customers who buy food in the store.

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