Guide to Costco in Korea vs. the United States

We love Costco in Korea because they keep our kitchen filled with affordable western treats. We also just had one open up near us ing our community and folks have been asking questions, so let us clarify a few thing regarding Costco Korea.

Costco in Korea vs. the United States: What Shoppers Should Know

For many international residents in South Korea, especially those from the United States, Costco can feel like a familiar slice of home. Yet, while the warehouse layout may look similar, shopping at Costco in Korea comes with some important differences. Knowing these ahead of time can save you frustration at checkout and help you make the most of your membership.

Closed Days for Costco Korea

One of the most surprising differences for international residents is that Costco warehouses in Korea are not open every day. Unlike in the U.S., where Costco locations are usually only closed on major holidays (like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day), Korean Costcos follow special local rules.

Regular Closed Days

The government requires major retailers in Korea to close twice a month to make space for smaller competition. This means:

• Most Korean Costcos are closed two days each month.
• These closures usually fall on either the second and fourth Sunday of the month or the second and fourth Wednesday, depending on the local government’s regulation.
• The rule comes from Korean retail law designed to protect small local businesses by limiting large retailers’ operating hours.

National Holidays

• Costco Korea locations may also close on major Korean public holidays, such as Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).
• Other closures may occur on holidays set by local governments.

How to Check Closed Days

1. Costco Korea Website/App:
   • Visit costco.co.kr → select your warehouse location. Each store page lists its monthly closed days.
2. Naver Maps / Kakao Maps:
   • Search “코스트코 [location]” (Costco + branch name). The store profile will often show upcoming closed days.
3. In-Store Notices:
   • Each Costco posts a printed schedule of closed days near the entrance and at the checkout counters.
4. Receipts & Flyers:
   • Sometimes the closed-day schedule is printed on receipts or in monthly promotional flyers.

Price or Membership

For example, the cost of a membership in South Korea is substantially lower than the United States. This means many United States Military will register in Korea in order to enjoy the discount while living in South Korea.

Costco Membership Fee Comparison

If you are trying to decide if you want a Costco membership in South Korea, below is a table of prices so that you can get an idea about how it all stacks up:

Country	Tier / Name	Annual Fee (Local Currency)	Approx. USD Equivalent	Key Features / Notes
South Korea	Gold Star Membership (개인/일반 회원)	₩43,000	~US$30-32	Includes Household Card; valid globally; no early-entry benefit.
	Business Membership	₩38,000	~US$27-30	For businesses; includes similar perks.
	Executive (Executive Gold Star / Executive Business)	₩86,000	~US$60-65	Adds 2% annual reward; higher cap on rewards; still no early shopping hours perk.
United States	Gold Star / Business	US$65	_	Standard membership; includes Household Card.
	Executive Membership	US$130	_	Executive shopping hours included; additional perks.
France	Gold Star / Standard Membership	€35	~US$38-40	Includes Household Card; membership valid internationally; limited warehouse locations.
	Executive Membership	Not available	—	No Executive tier currently offered in France.

Membership Benefits

Each country manages their membership based on local culture. This means benefits vary so you need to bee careful when looking things up online. It’s important to VERY carefully make sure that you are looking at the benefits for a specific country. Unfortunately, over the years, people have written misleading and poorly researched articles about Costco in Korea which confuse US membership benefits as global benefits.

Executive Member Benefit Clarifications

Open Times: Executive Membership in South Korea doesn’t offer early open hours. In the United States, Executive Members enjoy perks such as early shopping hours. However, in South Korea, this benefit does not exist at Costco in Korea as of September 2025. Regardless of membership tier, all shoppers enter the warehouse at the same time.

Executive Rewards: In Korea, the Executive Membership still includes the 2% annual reward on most purchases, which can add up quickly given the higher price of imported products. For many international residents who rely on Costco for bulk groceries and hard-to-find items, the rebate makes upgrading worthwhile, even without the early entry advantage.

Payment Methods Are Limited

One of the biggest culture shocks for newcomers is at checkout. Unlike the U.S., where ALL Visa or Mastercard are widely accepted, the only KOREAN card Costco Korea accepts is the Hyundai Card credit card (a partnership unique to the Korean market). HOWEVER, Costco Korea also accepts VISA cards issued in foreign countries. This means that US military often continue to shop with their US credit cards just fine.

If you don’t have either a Hyundai Credit Card issued in Korea or a foreign VISA card, you can still pay in cash or use a debit card issued by a Korean bank.

ATMs at Costco

One small inconvenience with the ATM’s at Costco are the limits. Some limit you to only withdrawing 200,000 – 300,000 KRW cash at a time. This means you need to make 2-3 withdraws in a row. It’s not that you can’t take 600,000KRW out, you just need to do it very slowly.

Additionally, sometimes they flat-out run out of money. This happens on days before Korean holidays or busy weekends. Its smart to plan ahead and come with the cash you need. We aren’t saying this is what we do, we are saying it’s the smart thing to do.

Product Selection and Imports

While you’ll recognize Kirkland Signature items, the product mix is different. U.S. Costcos may stock large selections of beef, frozen pizzas, or American snack foods, while Korean Costcos feature:

• More Korean staples like kimchi, gochujang, and rice.
• Seasonal Korean fruits (persimmons, pears, Jeju tangerines).
• Seafood options such as squid, octopus, and local shellfish.
• Smaller selection of U.S. meats compared to back home.

International favorites (like American cereals or cheese) are often available but at higher prices due to import costs. Remember, you are in a new country and the food you had at home is now being imported to a new place. Costs and availability will be different. Creator Appa’s Diary pointed out this also may mean that Kirkland products may not exist as the most affordable options on the shelves. Instead, brands from Korea or Europe might feel more affordable.

Parking and Access

Parking can feel more hectic in Korea. Warehouses are often multi-story buildings with huge attached parking garages, unlike the sprawling lots common in the U.S. Weekends in particular mean long waits for both entering and exiting. If you go on a weekend or before a holiday, make sure you give extra time for dealing with parking.

Many locations are also near public transportation, and some shoppers prefer to take the subway or bus and use Costco’s delivery service instead of driving. Make sure to ask about this if you don’t have a car or you don’t want to deal with the traffic.

Food Court Menu

The food court is a favorite on both sides of the Pacific, but you’ll notice some fun twists:

• The classic hot dog and pizza remain staples, but you might notice different flavor profiles?
• Korea often adds bulgogi bakes or other locally inspired items.

Store Layout and Shopping Culture

The warehouse layout feels familiar—big aisles, pallets of bulk goods—but the shopping culture is slightly different. Korean shoppers often purchase for extended families, so carts may be piled higher than what you see in the States.

Sampling stations are common but can get crowded, especially on weekends.

Costco Tire Centers in Korea

In addition to groceries, electronics, and household goods, many Costco locations in Korea also operate Tire Centers. The exist within the Costco Parking Garages. These are popular among both Korean and international shoppers because they combine lower prices on name-brand tires with reliable installation and service.

What They Offer

• Brand Selection: Costco Korea Tire Centers carry well-known international brands such as Michelin, Bridgestone, and Kumho (a major Korean brand).
• Installation Services: Tire purchase usually includes mounting, balancing, and disposal of your old tires.
• Tire Rotation & Balancing: Depending on the promotion, Costco may offer free or discounted rotation and balancing for the lifetime of the tire.
• Seasonal Tire Options: Some locations stock winter tires (important in northern Korea), though availability can be more limited than in North America or Europe.

Returns and Customer Service

Costco Korea does honor its return policy, but procedures can be stricter than in the U.S. Staff may ask more questions or limit returns on opened food items. Electronics in particular may have shorter return windows than American stores. Make sure to ask questions and handle differences with grace.

No Costco Gas Stations in Korea

One major difference between Costco in Korea and the United States is the lack of gas stations. In the U.S., most warehouses include Costco Gas, and Executive Members earn rewards there as well. In Korea, however, gas stations are not as widespread. Only certain locations have Costco Gas facilities, and availability is limited compared to the U.S.

How do I find a Costco Near Me?

To find a Costco near you enter 코스트코 into Naver Maps. It’s going to pull up options all over Korea and you can find the closest one to you! You can then use Naver Maps to navigate to a nearby store via personal vehicle or public transportation.

Pro-tip to US military looking for Costco in Pyeongtaek-si, don’t go to the Costco Korea Pyeongtaek Logistics Center near the Pyeongtaek-si Port. This is where they stage supplies for delivery to stores across Korea. You can’t shop here, you ned to go to the Pyeongtaek-si Costco between Seojeong Station and Jije Station near the PPO mall.

Final Thoughts

Shopping at Costco in Korea is both a familiar and new experience. While you won’t get early shopping hours as an Executive Member and payment options are limited, the comfort of finding Kirkland products and enjoying a bulgogi bake after shopping makes it worth the trip.

For international residents, Costco can be a lifeline for imported goods and a window into Korea’s own bulk-buying habits. The key is knowing the differences so you can plan ahead and shop stress-free.