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Amazon doesn’t have a local branch in Korea, and many people search things like “amazon korea,” “does amazon ship to korea,” and “amazon shopping in korea” because they still want to use Amazon.com here. But for everyday life, Coupang, Korea’s Amazon and the most popular way to shop online in English, is what the locals and long-term foreigners actually use and it’s the platform you need to learn how to order from.
If you still want to order from Amazon while you’re in Korea, you can follow our step‑by‑step guide to ordering from Amazon to Korea.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up and order on Coupang
1. Download Coupang on Android or Iphone
Search for “Coupang” on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or visit www.coupang.com on desktop.
2. Switch the App to English
Coupang now officially supports English. Here’s how to switch:
- Open the app
- Tap the user icon at the bottom right 👤(My Coupang / 마이쿠팡)
- Scroll down and tap “Country/Region & Language” (언어)
- Select English
Note: Even in English mode, delivery address fields often work better in Korean.
3. Before You Sign Up: ARC or No ARC?
Before you create your account, it helps to know what you can access with and without an Alien Registration Card (ARC):
- No ARC yet (tourists / short-term):
You can still sign up, use the English app, pay with many foreign Visa/MasterCard cards, and get standard delivery on most items. However, you won’t have full access to Rocket Wow membership, Rocket Fresh overnight grocery delivery, Coupang Eats, or Coupang Play. - With ARC + Korean phone number (long-term residents):
Coupang opens up fully: you can join Rocket Wow, get free shipping and easy returns, use Rocket Fresh, order via Coupang Eats, and stream content on Coupang Play like a local.
If your foreign card doesn’t go through during sign‑up, ask a Korean friend or long‑term resident to help you place orders while you finish your ARC process. Check out our full guide on how to The Complete Alien Registration Card.
4. Create Your Coupang Account
Even though your app setting is in English, this part is automatically all in Korean.
Tap Sign Up (회원가입) and fill in:
- Email address as ID
- Password
- Confirm Password
- Name (as on your passport or ARC, mismatches can cause payment and identity verification errors later)
- Korean phone number (required for SMS verification)
After submitting, verify your phone via the SMS code sent to your number.
5. Add Your Korean Delivery Address
In Coupang, tap your profile icon → Manage Addresses (주소록 관리) → Add Address (배송지 추가), then fill with your Korean address: enter the recipient name, find zip code,enter your road‑name address, then apartment/building number, floor, unit, and (if needed) the entry code 공동현관 비밀번호. Enter your phone number and choose the delivery instructions.
If the format feels confusing, use our AI Korean Address Format Conversion Tool to turn whatever address you have into the proper Korean format, and look up your postcode/zip code with Korea Post’s Postal Code Search if it isn’t printed on your housing papers.
No Korean keyboard? Type your address into Papago or Google Translate and copy‑paste it into Coupang.
6. Browse and Search for Products
Use the search bar at the top of the app or browse by category. You can search in English and usually find what you need, though Korean search terms return more complete results.
You can use this search box below to quickly search for items, write keyword, press enter and it’ll redirect you automatically to Coupang.
Now you can Add products to your Cart and Check Out !
7. Register Your Payment Method
When you want to pay for your cart, click on Proceed to checkout 결제 진행. Then scroll down to Payment method 결제 방법 and choose card, Bank transfer, Coupay Money or other payment methods.
Cards accepted:
- Korean debit and credit cards (most reliable)
- Foreign Visa and MasterCard (usually works / results can vary)
- Coupang Pay (linked to Korean bank account)
8. Track Your Order
And you are all set, go to My Coupang → Order History to track delivery status in real time. Rocket Delivery items often show the exact driver location on a live map.
After you’ve set up your account and placed your first order, it’s worth knowing a few of Coupang’s extra perks. These are the things that make Korean users (and most long‑term expats) fall in love with the app:
Rocket Delivery (로켓배송)
Rocket Delivery is Coupang’s “order today, get it tomorrow” service. Anything with the blue rocket badge usually arrives the next morning if you order before midnight, and even non‑members get their packages in about a day or two. There are stricter rules now for free delivery if you’re not a Rocket Wow member, but Wow subscribers get free Rocket shipping on qualifying items with no minimum order.
Rocket Fresh (로켓프레시)
Rocket Fresh is Coupang’s overnight grocery service. You add your groceries to the cart, check out before midnight, and they show up at your door around 7:00 AM: fruit, milk, meat, even ice cream still frozen. It’s often fresher than what you’ll find in many supermarkets, which is why people use it for weekly grocery runs
🛒 Looking for where to buy organic groceries in Seoul? Check out our guide to organic grocery stores in Seoul.
Golden Box (골드박스)
Gold Box is Coupang’s daily flash‑deal section. You tap the Gold Box banner on the home screen (or search “골드박스” in the search bar) and see limited‑time discounts on everything from electronics to kitchen gear, often with 20–70% off. It’s worth checking once a day if you like saving money on impulse buys.
Rocket Wow Membership (로켓와우)
Rocket Wow is Coupang’s monthly subscription, similar to Amazon Prime. For about ₩7,890 a month, you get free Rocket Delivery, easy 30‑day returns, access to Rocket Fresh, free delivery on Coupang Eats, and free streaming through Coupang Play. If you’re living in Korea long‑term and already have your ARC, one or two decent orders a month usually make the membership pay for itself.
Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠)
Coupang Eats is Coupang’s food delivery app, think Uber Eats or Deliveroo, but built for Korea. It uses a single‑order, single‑rider system, so your food typically arrives hotter and faster, often within 15–20 minutes. Rocket Wow members get free delivery; non‑members pay a small delivery fee, and you can track your rider on the map in real time. The app is available in English, although some menus still appear in Korean, and you’ll need a Korean phone number and ARC to sign up
If you want a full breakdown of all the food delivery apps (Baemin, Yogiyo, Shuttle, etc.), we have a complete guide of The best food delivery apps in Korea and how to use them.
Coupang Play (쿠팡플레이)
Coupang Play is the streaming side of the Coupang ecosystem and is included for free with Rocket Wow. It has Korean dramas, variety shows, films, live sports, plus some international content and a lot of it comes with English subtitles so foreigners can follow along
Already a Coupang Wow member? Check out our guide to streaming platforms to watch K-drama in english to explore even more ways to watch content here.
