Exploring a Huge 1,650-Square-Meter Daiso in Busan

If you're looking for an affordable and fun place to shop while traveling in Korea, Daiso Korea is definitely worth checking out.

During a recent visit to Lotte Mart Busan, I discovered a newly opened Daiso on the second floor. The store is about 500 pyeong in size, which is roughly 1,650 square meters, making it much larger than a typical Daiso store.

Lotte Mart Busan recently completed its renovation on August 7, 2026, with several new shopping areas, including a refurbished-goods section and fashion brands.

But the place where I ended up spending the most time was definitely Daiso.

I initially went in just to take a quick look because I was curious about how big a 500-pyeong Daiso would be. Somehow, I ended up leaving with a full shopping bag.

Why Is Daiso Korea So Popular?

Daiso in Korea is much more than a store for basic household goods.

You can find kitchenware, stationery, beauty products, travel items, storage solutions, accessories, character goods, snacks, and even some Korean food ingredients all in one place.

One of the biggest attractions is the affordable pricing. Many items are only a few thousand Korean won, making Daiso a fun stop for anyone looking for affordable shopping in Korea.

The Busan store I visited was large enough that I could spend quite a while browsing different sections. There were so many categories that it felt more like exploring a small department store than visiting a typical dollar store.

Korean Character Goods at Daiso

One thing I would definitely recommend checking out at Daiso Korea is the character goods section.

Rather than focusing on just one character, Daiso regularly releases new collaborations and seasonal collections featuring popular characters.

During my visit, I saw familiar names such as Sanrio, Crayon Shin-chan, and Disney, along with various other character designs.

What's fun is that the characters aren't limited to plush toys or collectibles. You can find them on everyday items such as stationery, pouches, socks, hair accessories, and other small household goods.

Since the products are relatively inexpensive, these can also make easy and fun Korean souvenirs.

The selection changes frequently, so you might find something completely different if you visit another Daiso a few weeks later.

Don't Skip the Korean Food and Snacks

Something that surprised me was how much food you can find at Korean Daiso stores.

Depending on the location, you may find snacks, candy, jelly, drinks, and even Korean cooking ingredients.

For travelers interested in Korean food, it can be fun to browse products such as gochujang (Korean red chili paste) and ssamjang (Korean dipping sauce).

There are also plenty of small snacks that are easy to take home, making this section worth checking if you're looking for inexpensive Korean food souvenirs.

The exact selection varies by store and can change depending on the season, but even browsing the food section gives you a little glimpse into everyday Korean shopping.

Useful Travel and Home Organization Items

Another thing I enjoyed browsing was the huge selection of small practical items.

There were digital accessories, storage products, kitchen supplies, bathroom items, and various things that could be useful for everyday life.

I became especially interested in the magnetic storage products.

There were magnetic hooks, hanging baskets, kitchen towel holders, and other items designed to attach to metal surfaces such as refrigerators.

Most of them were around ₩1,000–₩5,000, so it was easy to pick up a few and try them without spending much. You could say Daiso is somewhat like a 1-dollar store, but with a much wider selection of everyday items.

I actually brought several home and attached them to my refrigerator. They've turned out to be surprisingly useful for making better use of small spaces.

For anyone living in a small apartment or looking for simple Korean home organization items, this section is definitely worth exploring.

A Huge Accessories Section

The accessories section was another area that caught my attention.

There were lots of hair clips, bracelets, necklaces, scrunchies, and other small accessories.

I personally love scrunchies, so seeing so many different styles in one place was dangerous for my wallet!

There was also a large sock section with plenty of character designs, including Sanrio and Crayon Shin-chan.

Small accessories like these can also be nice souvenirs because they're inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to pack in your luggage.

More Than Just a Shopping Stop

I only briefly looked around the renovated Lotte Mart Busan, but I ended up spending most of my time at the 500-pyeong Daiso on the second floor.

I went in thinking I would just browse, but between the character goods, Korean snacks, accessories, kitchenware, and practical household items, there was much more to see than I expected.

If you're searching for cheap shopping in Busan, Daiso is an interesting option because it's not just a place to buy inexpensive products. You can also see everyday items that Korean shoppers actually use, discover seasonal character collaborations, and pick up Korean snacks or small souvenirs.

If you're already visiting Lotte Mart Busan, I would definitely recommend adding the Daiso to your itinerary.

A 500-pyeong Daiso may not sound like a tourist attraction at first, but once you walk inside, it's surprisingly easy to spend an hour browsing.

Location & Opening Hours

Daiso at Lotte Mart Busan
2F, Lotte Mart Busan
241 Sincheondaero, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea

Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Lotte Mart: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
(Closed: 2nd & 4th Monday of every month)