Convenience Store Korean Phrases You'll Actually Need
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · Updated · How we write & review
After this page, you can handle a quick convenience store trip entirely in Korean.
10-second answer
The short answer
Korean convenience stores (편의점, pyeonuijeom) run on a small, predictable set of phrases: asking the price (얼마예요?, eolmayeyo?), whether they'll heat your food, whether you need a bag, and how you're paying. Learn these five or six lines and you can handle almost any 편의점 visit confidently.
Quick check — did that land?
1. You bought a triangle kimbap and want it warm. What happens in a Korean convenience store?
Going to a Korean convenience store?
Full Dialogue Walkthrough
Checking out, then asking about heating your food. Try "Practice as You" and answer each line before checking.
봉투 필요하세요?
bongtu piryohaseyo?
Do you need a bag?
네, 하나 주세요.
ne, hana juseyo.
Yes, one please.
5,500원입니다.
ocheon obaek won-imnida.
That's 5,500 won.
카드로 할게요.
kadeuro halgeyo.
I'll pay by card.
전자레인지 어디 있어요?
jeonjareinji eodi isseoyo?
Where's the microwave?
저쪽에 있어요.
jeojjoge isseoyo.
It's over there.
감사합니다.
gamsahamnida.
Thank you.
See also: How Much in Korean? (얼마예요)
Walking In
Chain names on the sign are read the Korean way: CU is 씨유 (ssiyu) and GS25 is 지에스 이십오 — handy when you ask for directions. More in reading Korean street signs.
Getting Food Heated
In a Korean convenience store, you heat food yourself. There's a microwave (전자레인지) by the counter or in the eating corner, and customers use it on their own — staff don't heat things for you. The package usually prints the heating time, often by microwave wattage.
전자레인지 어디 있어요?
jeonjareinji eodi isseoyo?
Where's the microwave?
The one question you might need — usually it's right next to the counter.
몇 분 돌려요?
myeot bun dollyeoyo?
How long do I heat it?
돌리다 (to turn/run) is the everyday verb for microwaving. The answer is usually on the package: 1분 30초 and so on. Correct, but you rarely need it: the heating time is printed on the package.
Bags and Payment
봉투 필요하세요?
bongtu piryohaseyo?
Do you need a bag?
Staff asking you — reply 네, 주세요 (yes please) or 아니요, 괜찮아요 (no, I'm fine — see the gwaenchana page for why that phrasing works).
카드로 할게요.
kadeuro halgeyo.
I'll pay by card.
Even shorter at the counter: 카드요 (kadeuyo).
현금으로 할게요.
hyeongeumeuro halgeyo.
I'll pay in cash.
Or just 현금이요 (hyeongeumiyo) or 현금 드릴게요 (hyeongeum deurilgeyo).
Asking for Something
이거 얼마예요?
igeo eolmayeyo?
How much is this?
화장실 있어요?
hwajangsil isseoyo?
Is there a bathroom?
Many 편의점 don't have public restrooms — worth asking rather than assuming.
이거 하나 주세요.
igeo hana juseyo.
One of these, please.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Answering 봉투 필요하세요? with a plain 'yes'/'no' mentality
Remember 괜찮아요 as a reply to an offer usually means "no thanks" — see the gwaenchana page if this still trips you up.
Mistake #2 — Waiting for staff to heat your food
In Korea you heat convenience-store food yourself in the microwave near the counter. Check the package for the time, and take the lid or wrapping off if it says to.
For a sit-down café rather than the convenience-store fridge, see how to order coffee in Korean.
Mini Quiz
2. Staff asks 봉투 필요하세요? and you don't want a bag. What do you say?
3. How do you say "I'll pay by card"?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
Taxi Korean Phrases You'll Actually Need
One everyday situation down — the taxi ride is next on the practical-Korean checklist.
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