Buying a Laptop in Seoul

by Mr Mike
Buying a Laptop in Seoul

Whether you’re looking for a component, piece of hardware or a whole new machine Yongsan is the place to go.  It has a few big advantages over online shopping, mainly that you can physically try out or see what your buying.  Its a great way to price compare with different vendors and if you can speak some Korean you can haggle a bit.

How to get to Yongsan Electronics Mall

Subway to Yongsan Electronics Mall

Yongsan Station – Line 1, connected to Exit 2.
Sinyongsan Station – Line 4, Exit 3 or 5.

Its right next to Dragon Hill Spa.  I always come out of Sinyongsan and walk in.  There are a few street vendors  between the two stations that are great for a bite or a brew.


Getting to Yongsan Electrnoics Mall is easy, hop on the subway and head to Yongsan station on line 1 or Sinyongsan station on line 4.  I’ve been dozens of times and bought things from $5 to $500.  Camera lenses, tripods, headphones, SD cards, computer parts and of course laptops.  Just recently I bought a notebook to travel with so I can leave my bulkier laptop home.

So lets get down to what you’re probably here for.  Advice & prices! (Scroll down for some useful Korean phrases too)

Laptop Korea


Bus to Yongsan Electronics Mall

Get off at Yongsan Station Bus Stop.
Bus #: 151, 152, 500, 501, 504, 506, 507, 605, 750, 751, 752, 5012, 0211, 5012


Buying a Korean Laptop

Good news!  The best internet prices (www.Amazon.com) are attainable at Yongsan.  Usually they’ll quote a price 10-20% higher than what you’ve seen online and haggle down.  I just bought an Asus notebook for ₩360,000 (see below) and in 2013 an HP laptop for ₩460,000 ($450 at last years exchange rate).  The HP was my first time going to Yongsan and I spoke precisely zero Korean so I brought a Korean friend with me.  The vendor offered the equivalent (in KRW) to what I found on Amazon as long as I paid cash.

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Buying a Camera

As far as cameras go I’ve had great luck haggling for lenses, filters, tripods and SD cards.  The first floor when you walk in is jam packed with camera vendors.  Most of them have the same products and will let you try out the lens if you bring your camera.  Just like with the laptops I found their initial prices to be slightly inflated on internet price but willing to haggle roughly 10-20% depending on the vendor and the level of your Korean.


 3 tips for the best price at Yongsan Electronics Mall

1) Research your item ahead of time.  Go into the conversation knowing how much its worth and what you’re willing to pay for it.  Ask questions using the right terminology and they’ll know you aren’t messing around but most importantly bring a smartphone with the website & price you found!  Don’t forget to price check within the market itself!  Talk to multiple vendors and don’t be afraid to WALK AWAY.  The best prices I’ve gotten are in the middle of the market.  Near the doors vendors have the highest starting offers. Doing research and knowing the items has been my biggest tool for haggling and saved me hundreds!


2) Take your time thinking and firmly state a price halfway between what you want to pay and their offer.  The vendor WANTS to make the sale.  He can’t go below a certain price but if he realizes you’re serious about buying something today he’ll do everything he can to make sure he’s the one that sells it to you and not his neighbor.  They’ll invite you to sit down, have a cup of coffee and try out the item.  That’s when you know he’s serious.  If you sit down he knows you’re serious too.  Our conversation went like this:

Getting the best price in Korea

“How much?” I asked
“₩400,000” he replied typing the number into a calculator. tweet

It was a good price but just above internet market value and no way I was paying it.  I looked at the laptop, typed a little and stalled looking at the ports. tweet

“비싸요 (Peessayo)” I quietly told him it was too expensive.
“How much?”

He immediately asked me what I wanted to spend and handed me the calculator to type it in.  I stalled some more  I said ₩300,000 ($270) in Korean and typed it in.  He took his time and responded with ₩360,000 ($322).  Bam! 10% discount.  Now for some extras.
tweet

“4gb ram?”  (typically a $20-$40 upgrade since it only comes with 2gb)
“Okay.”
“Microsoft Office?”
“Yes.”
“Photoshop?”
“Yes.”
“₩360,000 ($322)?” I double checked the price now that these new items were added.
“Okay.” tweet

I still wasn’t sure I wanted to spend that kind of money since I was hoping to stay under $300.  Then again the prices I found for under $300 were all refurbished models and this one was brand new.  I did a quick search on phone and found the same model for the ($330 US equivalent) and a $250 refurbished one.  I waited another moment before agreeing and heading to an ATM with him (there are a handful on both sides of the market).  By the end he even threw in a neoprene case and optical mouse for free too!


3)If you don’t speak a little Korean bring a Korean with you.  If they see a lone foreigner who knows no Korean they’ll high ball the first offer.  More importantly though you won’t know exactly what you’re getting and be able to ask for extras (like how I got Photoshop CS7 & Microsoft Office thrown in for free on my notebook).  Knowing Korean numbers seems to be the best way actually haggle even if you don’t know other words but remember these phrases & to wait for him to respond.

Korean Phrases to know for shopping & haggling!

_____ 있어요? (ee soy yo) = Do you have _____.
(ie: Samsung Laptop ee soy yo?
Nikon lens 50mm 있어요?)

이거  얼마예요? (eego ole-mah-yeh-yo?) = (while pointing to an item) how much is this?

비싸요 (Peessayo) = that’s expensive

깎아 주세요 (Kakka ju-se-yo) = please give me a discount

원(won) = won (₩) Click for current KRW to USD rates

일 (il) = 1

이 (ee) = 2

삼 (sam) = 3

사 (sa) = 4

오 (oh) = 5

육 (yuke) = 6

칠 (chil) = 7

팔 (pal) = 8

구 (gu) = 9

십 (shib) = 10

백 (baek) = 100

천 (chun) = 1,000

만 (maan) = 10,000

십만 (shib maan) = 100,000

백만 baek maan) = 1,000,000

 

Mr Mike

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12 comments

stephani August 11, 2014 - 8:43 pm

Hi! Can you give me the name of the stall and the attendant? I plan to buy a laptop there when I save enough money from my stipend. I have a notebook but I need more processing power so I want to switch to a laptop. Is your laptop still good? No problems at all? Hope you can help.

Reply
Mr Mike August 12, 2014 - 2:25 am

Hi Stephani,

Laptop still works like a charm! I don’t remember the stall or attendant but know it was on the second floor just to the left after exiting the escalator.

On another note I’ve been back a few times now and have some advice. Do some price research online first. Find a comparable product on Amazon and bring a picture! Helps a lot with bartering. Also don’t forget that you don’t have to buy from the first guy. You can just walk away. I found the prices get cheaper as you get father from the entrances.

Good luck! I’m gonna have to head back in a few weeks when i get back from Vietnam and can check on the stall if you want.

Let me know how it goes!
Mike

Reply
Stephani August 12, 2014 - 10:50 am

Thank you very much! Will be travelling to Seoul end of August and I was hoping to save up soon (maybe before the winter break). I know it was really early to ask for info since it was only August. It’s good to be prepared though! So, I will take your advice of looking up online prices first.

Again, thanks!

Reply
Buying a laptop, camera, or any electronics in Seoul | Live, Travel, Teach August 30, 2016 - 5:35 pm

[…] online and haggle down.  I just bought an Asus notebook for ₩360,000 (see below) and in 2013 an HP laptop for ₩460,000 ($450 at last years exchange rate).  The HP was my first time going to Yongsan and I spoke precisely zero Korean so I brought a Korean […]

Reply
Jerry May 10, 2017 - 12:38 am

Hello I just want to ask, can I return my purchased laptop in yongsan? I am planning to buy a cheaper obe because I was out of budget

Reply
Mike Still May 12, 2017 - 8:25 pm

Hey Jerry,

It depends. I think some of the vendors will take returns but haven’t done so myself. If its still brand new you should be fine but if you’ve used it they are more likely to offer to buy it back than give you a full refund. Let me know how it goes and I’ll add it to this page.

Mike

Reply
Bade August 19, 2017 - 11:59 am

I am from India and travelling to Seoul and then Busan. I wil be there for 4 days only. What things I can buy there? Please guide me.

First time on net I see someone is advising to buy, til now everybody says it is costly than other countries??

Reply
Mike Still August 22, 2017 - 11:10 pm

Hi Bade,

It really depends what you’re looking for. Yongsan Electronics mall has everything from computers to cameras, tvs and more. They have a lot of cheaper used options but makes sure you check the equipment really well if you are buying used.

Mike

Reply
Bevan Wong October 21, 2017 - 7:07 am

Hello, I am planning to buy a laptop in korea. Which one do u recommend? samsung, LG, macbook? and the plug and ports is it same as Singapore do you know?

Reply
Mike Still October 30, 2017 - 11:50 am

Hi Bevan,

I don’t know the ports in Singapore but this is what you will see in Korea.

If you are using it in Korea than Samsung/LG are good but if not then their repair/support is not very good so I wouldn’t recommend them. If you do a lot of creative work than a macbook is the right choice.

Reply
Anonymous January 16, 2018 - 9:44 pm

Hello! Im living here in korea right now, so im looking for a cheap laptop, I am student so I need cheap and good things…

Reply
Mike Still January 19, 2018 - 6:46 pm

You won’t find something *good* and *cheap* but if you go to Yongsan Electronics Market you can look at good prices for refurbished laptops to get the best price. Talk to the salesman and let them know your situation. Ask them for help if anything goes wrong and you can always bring it back to the same guy.

Reply

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