The Snackpacker's Guide 9 things to buy from S. Korea

Pick up snacks such as flavoured popcorn, matcha brownies and sugar-free candy

- Vanitha Maniarasu

SEOUL - Sharing top spot on many South Korean itineraries these days are saunas, skincare clinics and shopping in Lotte Mart — walking down aisles of the hypermarket chain filling up at taste-testing counters.

From flavoured ramen to zero-sugar gummies, South Korea is exporting copious amounts of snacks worldwide, selling them on e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon and Shopee. But buying them in their country of origin means savings of up to 50 per cent and more unique flavours.

For instance, a 75g pack of corn snack Banana Kick costs 1,360 won (S$1.30) at Lotte Mart, compared with $2.40 on Shopee.

Larger outlets of the chain including Lotte Mart Zettaplex at Seoul Station - offer Express Mail Service to selected countries, so travellers do not have to lug their bulk buys home. You can also claim tax refunds on purchases above 15,000 won.

On a trip to Seoul in April, a friend and I shopped for two hours at Lotte Mart and took home duffel bags full of snacks. Another friend shipped home a couple of boxes filled with tidbits and drinks for family and friends.

If you are planning a trip to South Korea, here are nine snacks I recommend.

MURGERBON COFFEE PEANUT POPCORN (2,990 WON A PACKET)

While Murgerbon's Honey Butter Corn snack might have lost the popularity battle with HBAF's honey butter almonds, it is back with a new contender - coffee peanut popcorn.

Murgerbon has reimagined its iconic product, a coffee peanut snack from 1986, into popcorn that is a hit with the younger generation. A Lotte Mart employee tells me the chain restocks this snack multiple times a day to cater to tourists.

The soccer ball-shaped popcorn kernels have a sweet coffee flavour and a tinge of peanut from peanut powder. I took home a few packets and they vanished rapidly on Netflix nights. Murgerbon also has other flavours, such as cheddar cheese and butter garlic and onion, in both regular and jumbo packets.