How to Find Cheaper Prices in Korea: A Complete Guide to Danawa and Naver Shopping

Introduction

Shopping in Korea can be expensive if you buy from the first store you see. Whether you're looking for electronics, home appliances, books, or daily necessities, there are powerful price comparison tools that can help you find the same products at significantly lower prices. This guide will show you how to use Korea's two most popular price comparison platforms: Danawa and Naver Shopping.

These platforms aggregate prices from hundreds of online and offline retailers, making it easy to find the best deal with just a few clicks. You could save anywhere from 10% to 50% or more by taking a few minutes to compare prices before purchasing.

What is Danawa?

Danawa (다나와) is Korea's largest and most comprehensive price comparison website, particularly strong for electronics, computers, and tech products. Founded in 1999, it has become the go-to platform for savvy Korean shoppers.

Website: https://www.danawa.com

Key Features of Danawa:

Extensive product database with detailed specifications
Real-time price updates from hundreds of retailers
Price history graphs showing trends over time
User reviews and ratings for both products and sellers
Side-by-side product comparisons
Deal alerts and special promotions
PC building tool for custom computer configurations

What Danawa is Best For:

Electronics (laptops, smartphones, cameras)
Computer components and peripherals
Home appliances
Gaming consoles and accessories
Audio equipment
Office supplies
Some daily necessities

What is Naver Shopping?

Naver Shopping (네이버 쇼핑) is Korea's most widely used shopping search engine, operated by Naver (Korea's largest search engine). It covers a broader range of products than Danawa and integrates seamlessly with Korea's shopping ecosystem.

Website: https://shopping.naver.com

Key Features of Naver Shopping:

Massive product selection across all categories
Smart Lens visual search using photos
Shopping Live livestream shopping shows
Naver Pay integration for easy checkout
Seller ratings and reviews
Price trend tracking
Direct links to major shopping malls
Fashion and beauty focus in addition to electronics

What Naver Shopping is Best For:

Fashion and clothing
Beauty and cosmetics
Books and media
Food and groceries
Furniture and home decor
Literally everything else
General everyday purchases

How to Use Danawa to Find Cheaper Prices

Step 1: Access Danawa

Navigate to www.danawa.com. The interface is primarily in Korean, but modern browsers can translate it.

Step 2: Search for Your Product

You can search in two ways:

Option A: Use the Search Bar

Enter the product name or model number in the search bar at the top
Be as specific as possible (e.g., "iPhone 15 Pro 256GB" rather than just "iPhone")
Press Enter or click the search icon

Option B: Browse by Category

Use the left sidebar to browse categories (컴퓨터/노트북 for computers, 가전 for appliances, etc.)
Navigate through subcategories to find your product type
This is useful when you're not sure of the exact model

Step 3: Review the Results

You'll see a list of matching products with:

Product images and names
Lowest price highlighted prominently
Price range from various sellers
User ratings and review counts
Brief specifications

Step 4: Click on a Product for Details

Once you find your product, click on it to see:

Detailed specifications and product information
Complete price comparison table showing all retailers
Price history graph (look for the "가격비교" or "가격추이" tab)
User reviews and ratings
Similar products for comparison

Step 5: Compare Sellers

In the price comparison table, you'll see:

Seller name (판매자)
Price (가격) - look for the lowest
Shipping cost (배송비) - free shipping is "무료배송"
Delivery time (배송기간)
Seller rating (판매자 평점)

Important considerations:

Check if shipping is included in the price
Look for "무료배송" (free shipping) options
Consider seller ratings - a few won saved isn't worth dealing with a bad seller
Some prices might be for used or refurbished items - check carefully

Step 6: Purchase Through the Retailer

Click the "최저가 구매" (lowest price purchase) button or the seller name
You'll be redirected to the retailer's website
Complete your purchase on their platform

Pro Tips for Danawa:

1. Use Price Alerts

Set up price drop notifications for items you want
Click "가격 알림" and enter your email
Get notified when the price drops to your target

2. Check Price History

View the price trend graph to see if prices are rising or falling
Avoid buying if the price just spiked - wait for it to drop
Best deals often appear during promotional periods (Black Friday, Chuseok, etc.)

3. Read Recent Reviews

Sort reviews by most recent (최신순)
Look for mentions of actual prices paid
Check for complaints about hidden costs or issues

4. Use the Comparison Tool

Select multiple similar products using checkboxes
Click "제품 비교하기" (compare products)
View specs side-by-side to make informed decisions

How to Use Naver Shopping to Find Cheaper Prices

Step 1: Access Naver Shopping

Go to shopping.naver.com or type your search directly into Naver.com and click the "쇼핑" (Shopping) tab.

Step 2: Search for Your Product

Enter your product name in Korean or English
For Korean products, Korean search terms usually give better results
Use specific brand names and model numbers when possible

Step 3: Use Filters to Refine Results

Naver Shopping has powerful filtering options:

Sort by: Lowest price (낮은가격순), most popular (인기도순), recent (최신순)
Delivery: Free shipping (무료배송), quick delivery (빠른배송), dawn delivery (새벽배송)
Price range: Set minimum and maximum prices
Seller type: Shopping malls (쇼핑몰), individual sellers (개인), official stores (브랜드)
Brand filters: Check specific brands you trust

Step 4: Review Product Listings

Each product card shows:

Product image and title
Price in KRW
Original price with discount percentage (if on sale)
Seller name
Naver Pay availability
Review rating and count
Free shipping badge (if applicable)

Step 5: Check the Product Detail Page

Click on a product to see:

Price comparison widget showing the same product at different stores
Detailed product description
User reviews with photos
Q&A section
Seller information and rating

Step 6: Compare Prices Across Sellers

Look for the "최저가 정보" (lowest price information) section:

Shows the same product listed by different sellers
Compares prices including shipping
Displays seller ratings
Shows delivery options

Step 7: Make Your Purchase

Two options:

Option A: Direct Purchase

Click "구매하기" (purchase) if buying directly through Naver Shopping
Use Naver Pay for streamlined checkout

Option B: Visit Seller's Store

Click the seller name to visit their store
Useful if you want to bundle items for better shipping deals

Pro Tips for Naver Shopping:

1. Use Smart Lens for Visual Search

Take a photo of a product or upload an image
Naver will find the same or similar products
Great for finding clothes, accessories, or items you've seen in person

2. Enable Price Drop Notifications

Click the "알림받기" (get notifications) bell icon
Get alerts when the price drops
Requires a Naver account

3. Check "Shopping Live"

Watch livestream shopping shows with special prices
Often have exclusive deals and bundles
Can ask questions in real-time chat

4. Look for Store Coupons

Many sellers offer additional coupons (쿠폰)
Check the product page for "쿠폰받기" buttons
Stack coupons with sales for maximum savings

5. Use Naver Pay Benefits

Naver Pay often has cashback promotions
Easier returns and refund process
Accumulate Naver Points for future purchases

6. Read Recent Reviews with Photos

Filter reviews to show photo reviews (포토리뷰)
Look for "실물" (actual product) photos from buyers
More reliable than professional product photos

When to Use Which Platform

Use Danawa When:

Shopping for electronics and tech products
You want detailed technical specifications
You need historical price data
Comparing similar products side-by-side
Looking for the absolute lowest price on tech items
Building a custom PC or tech setup

Use Naver Shopping When:

Shopping for fashion, beauty, or everyday items
You want the widest product selection
Using visual search with Smart Lens
Shopping on mobile (better mobile experience)
Buying from multiple categories at once
Looking for trending or popular products

Use Both When:

You want to be absolutely sure you're getting the best deal
Shopping for products that appear on both platforms
The item is expensive (worth the extra research time)
You're not in a rush and can wait for price drops

Advanced Money-Saving Strategies

1. Timing Your Purchase

Best times to buy in Korea:

January: New Year sales
March-April: Spring season promotions
June: Mid-year sales
September: Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) deals
November: Black Friday and Cyber Monday
December: Year-end clearance sales

2. Bundle Purchases

Buy multiple items from the same seller to save on shipping
Look for bundle deals (묶음배송)
Some sellers offer discounts for bulk purchases

3. Use Credit Card Benefits

Many Korean credit cards offer additional cashback on online purchases
Some cards have partnerships with specific shopping platforms
Check your card benefits before major purchases

4. Join Membership Programs

Naver Plus Membership: Discounts and free shipping
Coupang Rocket Wow (if also using Coupang)
Store-specific memberships for frequent purchases

5. Check Multiple Sources

Before finalizing a purchase, also check:

Gmarket and Auction (owned by eBay Korea)
Coupang (Amazon-like platform)
11st (SK Planet's shopping mall)
Direct brand websites (sometimes have exclusive deals)

6. Use Browser Extensions

Price tracking extensions can monitor products for you
Some extensions show historical price data
Auto-apply coupons at checkout

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Not Checking Shipping Costs

A lower product price might have higher shipping costs
Always calculate the total cost including delivery
Free shipping threshold varies by seller

2. Ignoring Seller Ratings

Very low prices from unrated sellers can be risky
Check seller reviews and ratings carefully
Look for "파워셀러" (power seller) or verified badges

3. Missing Return/Refund Policies

Check return windows (교환/반품)
Some items (opened cosmetics, custom items) can't be returned
International shipping returns can be complicated

4. Not Verifying Authenticity

For branded products, check for official seller badges
Compare prices - if it's too good to be true, it might be fake
Read reviews mentioning authenticity

5. Rushing Due to Artificial Urgency

"Limited time" deals often repeat
Don't fall for countdown timers without checking price history
Real deals will be reflected across multiple sellers

Mobile Shopping Tips

Both platforms have excellent mobile apps:

Danawa App:

Barcode scanner to check prices in physical stores
Price comparison on the go
Push notifications for price drops

Naver Shopping App:

Better integrated mobile experience than desktop
Smart Lens visual search (camera feature)
One-tap purchasing with Naver Pay
Shopping Live streaming deals

Mobile Strategy:

Use apps when shopping in physical stores
Scan barcodes to compare with online prices
Some stores will price match if you show them lower online prices

Language Barrier Solutions

If you don't read Korean:

1. Use Browser Translation

Chrome's built-in translation works well
Install Papago (Naver's translator) extension
Key terms to know:
- 가격: Price
- 무료배송: Free shipping
- 구매하기: Purchase
- 최저가: Lowest price
- 리뷰: Review

2. Learn Key Numbers

Understanding Korean numbers helps spot deals
천 (cheon) = 1,000
만 (man) = 10,000
십만 (ship-man) = 100,000

3. Copy Model Numbers

Model numbers are universal
Copy and paste exact model numbers for accuracy
Use English product names when possible

Conclusion

Using Danawa and Naver Shopping can save you significant money when shopping in Korea. The key is to:

Always compare prices before making a purchase
Check multiple sellers for the same product
Read recent reviews to avoid problematic sellers
Consider total costs including shipping
Time your purchases around sales periods
Use price history to ensure you're getting a good deal

With a little extra effort upfront, you can easily save thousands of won on purchases, especially for expensive electronics and appliances. These platforms have leveled the playing field, giving consumers the power to find the best deals without visiting dozens of stores.

Start with a single purchase using these tools, and you'll quickly develop the habit of checking prices before buying anything online in Korea. Your wallet will thank you!

Additional Resources

Danawa Mobile App: Available on iOS and Android
Naver Shopping App: Available on iOS and Android
Danawa YouTube Channel: Product reviews and shopping tips (in Korean)
Naver Shopping Talk: Community forum for shopping discussions

Happy shopping and saving money in Korea! 🛍️💰