The K-Snack Bible: 10 Icons Every Traveler Must Taste in 2025

Hello! It’s Min again, your resident K-snack expert! 🌟 I heard you wanted more “crunch” in your stories, so I’ve gone back into my pantry (and my culinary notebooks!) to bring you a deeper, more flavorful look at these 10 legends.

I’m obsessed with why these snacks have survived decades. From secret production methods to the way they’ve become part of our cultural DNA, here is the “Deep Dive” edition of Korea’s 2025 snack favorites!

1. Nongshim Saewookkang (Shrimp Crackers) — The 1971 Pioneer 👑

• Sales (H1 2025): ~57.8 Billion KRW
• Price: ~1,400 KRW (90g)
• The Origin Story: Born in 1971, it was Korea’s first-ever snack. The name was inspired by the founder’s young daughter mispronouncing the folk song “Arirang” as “Arikkang.”
• The Secret Craft: Unlike most chips, these are parched in hot salt rather than fried in oil. This gives them that signature airy, non-greasy crunch.
• Flavor Profile: It’s a delicate balance of savory shrimp (using 4-5 real shrimp per bag!) and a subtle salty-sweet finish.
• Min’s Tip: Look for the “Spicy” (Maeun) version for a kick that pairs perfectly with a cold Korean lager!

2. Orion Poccachip — The Science of the Perfect Crunch 🥔

• Sales (H1 2025): ~54.4 Billion KRW
• Price: ~1,700 KRW (66g)
• The Potato Lab: Orion actually operates its own “Potato Research Institute” to develop the perfect potato variety (called “Duri”) specifically for chips.
• The Texture: At just 1.37mm thin, it provides a “shatter-in-your-mouth” experience.
• 2025 Trend: The “Triple Pepper” and “Lime” flavors are currently the stars of Korean convenience stores.

3. Orion Choco Pie — The Chocolate-Coated Heart 🍫☁️

• Sales (H1 2025): ~47.8 Billion KRW
• Price: ~5,000 KRW (Box of 12) / ~500 KRW (Individual)
• The Composition: Two layers of soft, cocoa-infused sponge cake held together by a chewy marshmallow center, all draped in smooth chocolate.
• Cultural Soul: In Korea, we call this the snack of Jeong (affection). It’s the traditional “cake” for soldiers in the military and a universal sign of friendship.
• Min’s Recipe Hack: Place a Choco Pie on a plate and microwave for 10-15 seconds. The marshmallow swells up like a giant cloud! Eat it with a spoon for a DIY chocolate fondant experience.

4. Lotte Wellfood Pepero — The Stick that Started a Holiday 🥢

• Sales (H1 2025): ~42.6 Billion KRW
• Price: ~2,000 KRW
• The Anatomy: A slender, crunchy biscuit stick dipped in high-quality chocolate. It’s the perfect “no-mess” snack because the bottom of the stick is left uncoated, acting as a built-in handle!
• The Variety King: Part of Pepero’s massive success is its constant innovation. From the classic Original (dark chocolate) to Almond (the perennial favorite with crushed nuts), White Cookie (cookies and cream), and even Crunky (with malt puffs), there is a flavor for every mood.
• The Magic of Pepero Day: In Korea, November 11th is a special day for sharing affection with friends, partners, and colleagues by exchanging Pepero sticks. Because the date ’11/11′ resembles four tall, slender Pepero sticks standing together, this day has blossomed into a massive national celebration and a heartwarming cultural festival that fills the streets with sweetness.
• Foreigner’s Choice: Travelers love the “Crunky Pepero” (malt puffs inside the chocolate) and the “Nude Pepero” (chocolate on the inside so your hands stay clean!).

5. Nongshim Kellogg’s Pringles — The Global Localizer 🥫

• Sales (H1 2025): ~38.0 Billion KRW
• Price: ~3,500 KRW (110g)
• The K-Flavors: While Pringles is global, Korea treats it like a canvas for innovation.
• 2025 Special: The “Sweet Mayo Cheese” and “Korean BBQ” flavors are exclusive hits that foreigners often buy in bulk to take home.

6. Lotte Wellfood Kkokkalcorn — The Interactive Corn Snack 🌽

• Sales (H1 2025): ~36.5 Billion KRW
• Price: ~1,700 KRW (67g)
• Shape & History: Launched in 1983, these are funnel-shaped corn cones.
• The Taste: It’s roasted, nutty, and slightly sweet—reminiscent of Korean street-style grilled corn.
• The Ritual: You must put one on each of your ten fingers and eat them off one by one. It’s a childhood rite of passage here!

7. Haitai Home Run Ball — The Melting Masterpiece ⚾️

• Sales (H1 2025): ~33.2 Billion KRW
• Price: ~1,900 KRW (46g)
• The Texture: A light, airy choux pastry (like a mini cream puff) filled with creamy chocolate.
• The Must-Do: This is the most famous “air fryer snack” in Korea.Min’s Easy Air Fryer Recipe:
  1. Preheat to 180°C.
  2. Air fry the Home Run Balls for 3 minutes.
  3. Result: The shell becomes incredibly crisp like a fresh pastry, and the chocolate core turns into a liquid lava!

8. Ferrero Rocher — The Gold Standard of Gifting ✨

• Sales (H1 2025): ~30.1 Billion KRW
• Price: ~2,700 KRW (3-pack) / ~12,000 KRW (8-pack)
• The Craze: In Korea, it’s the king of “Convenience Store Luxury.”
• The Timing: Sales skyrocket during the Suneung (College Entrance Exam) season, as the gold wrapping and hazelnut energy are believed to bring good luck and “brain power” to students.

9. Lotte Wellfood Ghana Chocolate — The Elegant Classic 🍫

• Sales (H1 2025): ~28.5 Billion KRW
• Price: ~1,400 KRW (Mild, 50g) / ~3,400 KRW (Premium)
• The Legacy: Named after the country that produces the cacao beans, this has been Korea’s favorite chocolate bar since 1974.
• The Trend: Lotte recently opened a “Ghana Chocolate House” pop-up in Seoul, serving high-end chocolate desserts and whiskey pairings, making this “old” brand suddenly very cool for Gen Z.

10. Orion Squid Peanut (Ojing-eo Ttangkong) — The Multi-Layered Savory 🦑🥜

• Sales (H1 2025): ~25.2 Billion KRW
• Price: ~2,000 KRW (98g)
• The Craft: It takes three days to make one batch! A whole peanut is coated 28 times with a squid-flavored dough to create its signature crunchy shell.
• The Flavor: It smells strongly of the sea but tastes like a savory, smoky peanut cracker.
• Best For: Long bus rides or “Hon-sul” (drinking alone at home).

🌍 Why Travelers Are Obsessed with K-Snacks in 2025

If you’re visiting Korea this year, you’ll notice two big things:

1. The “Convenience Store Tour”: It’s now a top tourist activity! Tourists are skipping fancy dinners to try the “Cup Noodle + Snack” combos seen on TikTok.
2. Healthy-ish Choices: Look for the “Zero” stickers. Lotte and Orion have released sugar-free versions of their classics that actually taste identical to the originals.

Min’s “Must-Buy” List for Foreign Travelers:

• Turtle Chips (Choco Churros flavor): The four-layered crunch is world-famous.
• Honey Butter Chip: The legend that started the “Sweet & Salty” craze.
• Market O Brownies: Often found in the “Souvenir” section, these use real butter and are bakery-quality.

I hope this deeper look into the world of Korean snacks makes you as hungry as I am! These little treats are such a big part of our daily joy here in Korea.

MIN

A certified Korean chef and baker. Min shares authentic tastes of Korea, from hidden local gems to traditional recipes and everyday lifestyle.