ContentsView article sectionsGrocery shopping in South KoreaWhy do the foods taste different in South Korea?What surprises exist in the grocery store in South KoreaHere are some more blogs that are going to help you in the kitchenWondering about grocery shopping in Korea? Let’s discuss the realities of moving to a new culture and the struggles in Korea. Grocery shopping in South Korea Moving to South Korea can feel like a shock in the kitchen!! Grocery stores have different organizational logic, companies package differently, veggies taste different, and so much more. It’s likely that you are going to notice a difference in how everything cooks and tastes. It’s going to take a while to get used to all the new vegetables, fruits, meat cuts, and more. When I first arrived, I had a mental breakdown because nothing that I made tasted right. I learned that every fruit, vegetable, and other ingredient was just a little bit different. Adjusting for things like different sweetness levels, acidity, or bitterness nearly drove me to drink. Ok, it actually drove me to drink, but I just kept cooking until I found my groove again. For a year, I decided to only cook with ingredients produced in South Korea. It was a challenge that truly changed how I look at food. Don’t get discouraged! Dig into studying the new ingredients, ask questions, and try all the new things! Why do the foods taste different in South Korea? This is part of the uniqueness of culture. When you move around the world, each location has a different view of how much salt, sweet, bitter, sour, or spicy is ok to eat. This change can impact you deeply and emotionally. Many, maybe even most, ex-pats get very angry about these changes. The new tastes may feel like an attack on all that is right and sacred during a very stressful life change. The funny part is that when you go back home, you will feel like food is weird there! Life is funny that way. We evolve without even knowing it. What surprises exist in the grocery store in South Korea Don’t be too scared, but be ready to be overwhelmed on your first trip to a Korean grocery store. It’s going to take you a lot more time to do your grocery shopping than you originally planned. Here are some of the culture shock points: Since all of this change is overwhelming, we recommend going to the grocery store before you need to buy anything and just walking around. Taking a few hours to get comfortable with the new setup can change everything. Here are some more blogs that are going to help you in the kitchen SOUTH OF SEOUL EDITORIAL INFORMATION Article Information & History Historical Record Originally written by South of Seoul Originally published July 14, 2021 Article History July 14, 2021 Originally published Written by South of Seoul No formal audit has been recorded for this article under the current South of Seoul editorial process. Historical article: This article has not yet been formally audited under South of Seoul’s current editorial process. It remains available as part of our publishing history and may contain information that has changed since publication. Before You Act South of Seoul articles document information available at a particular point in time. Prices, hours, services, policies, procedures, laws, eligibility requirements, transportation, contact details, and local conditions can change. Use this article as a research starting point and confirm important details using current official resources, direct contact, Naver Maps, Kakao Map, and other reliable sources when appropriate. For consequential immigration, legal, medical, or financial decisions, confirm current requirements with the relevant official authority or an appropriately qualified professional. See something that needs updating? Help us keep practical information useful. Reader reports are reviewed by our editorial team and do not automatically change this article. Website What needs attention? Select a reason Outdated information Business closed or moved Hours changed Price changed Broken link Location or access changed Policy or rule changed Contact information changed Translation issue Other What did you notice? Send to Editorial Team No name or email is required. Please don’t include private or sensitive personal information.