GS25 foreign sales surge 137% at South Korea’s coastal tourist stores

GS25 reported that foreign payment revenue at roughly 100 of its convenience stores in popular coastal tourist destinations—including Gangneung, Sokcho, Busan’s Haeundae and Jeju Island— jumped 136.9% year‑on‑year between July 1 and July 19. The increase reflects a surge in overseas visitors during the summer holiday season. Overall foreign‑payment sales in the first half of the year were 60.2% higher than the same period in 2025, with the highest volume recorded in Seoul’s Myeong‑dong area, followed by Hongdae and Jeju.

The most purchased items among tourists were Korean snacks such as banana milk, Greek yogurt, ice cups and soft‑boiled eggs, along with practical goods like transportation cards and USIM cards. GS25 has been promoting Chinese mobile‑payment platforms WeChat Pay, Alipay and UnionPay, and it now offers instant tax‑refund services and foreign‑currency exchange kiosks to ease shopping for visitors. An GS Retail official said, “GS25 has become a must‑visit stop for foreign tourists wanting to experience K‑food and K‑culture up close.”