"Get Your Glasses in 30 Minutes: The Impressive Speed of Koreans—The Must-Try Experience When Visiting Korea" [K-Holic]

More Foreign Tourists Getting Glasses in Korea
Same-Day Service Popular Even for Short Trips
K-Glasses Craze Fuels Growth Expectations for Domestic Eyewear Market

Editor's NoteGlobal interest in Korean culture is rapidly increasing. Korean-related products and content, such as K-Food and K-Beauty, are permeating the daily lives of overseas consumers beyond a niche group of enthusiasts. [K-Holic] sheds light on the 'Korean Wave' captured around the world and explores why international consumers are focusing on Korea.

Recently, Korean optical shops have been gaining attention as a new tourist attraction among foreign visitors. The so-called 'K Glasses' craze is spreading, driven by the combination of fast service—where eye exams, eyewear production, and pickup are all possible within an hour—competitive prices, and trendy designs.

Affordable and Fast... Why 'K Glasses' Are So Alluring

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Recently, videos showing the process of getting prescription glasses in Korea have been continuously uploaded on social networking services (SNS) such as TikTok and Instagram. Foreign tourists are sharing their experiences of visiting optical shops in areas like Hongdae, Seongsu, and Myeong-dong in Seoul, where they can complete everything from eye exams to making and receiving their glasses in a short period, attracting significant interest.

One Japanese TikToker, in particular, introduced, "Did you know you can get glasses made on the same day in Korea? The eye exam is free, and you can receive your glasses within 20 to 30 minutes." Another Japanese TikToker also noted, "In Korea, you can buy high-quality yet affordable glasses for about 5,000 yen (approximately 47,000 won)." Some tourists even visited flagship stores of eyewear brands such as Gentle Monster and Blue Elephant, leaving certification photos as a memento.

The biggest reason why 'K Glasses' are popular among foreign tourists is undoubtedly 'speed.' In some countries, such as the United States and those in Europe, it can take several days to a few weeks to receive glasses after an eye exam and production. In contrast, Korea has developed in-store lens processing systems, making it possible to complete everything from the eye exam to receiving the glasses in 30 minutes to an hour at many shops. The fact that travelers can get new glasses even during a short trip is seen as a major draw for international visitors.

Recommendations for Korean optical shops are also being posted on overseas online communities such as Reddit. One user shared, "Davich Optical has products in a wide range of price points, offers free eye exams, and can make glasses on the same day. If you want stylish frames, I recommend buying frames at Gentle Monster or Blue Elephant and then getting the lenses fitted at Davich."

Price competitiveness is another factor behind the popularity. Affordable frames can be purchased for around 30,000 won, and there is a wide variety of designs to choose from. Recently, glasses have established themselves not just as vision correction tools but as fashion items, fueling a consumer trend of purchasing multiple pairs to suit different styles.

Glasses as Fashion Items... Market Growth Expected to Continue

Recently, content related to 'K Glasses' has been continuously uploaded on social networking services (SNS) such as TikTok. TikTok

With these trends, the 'K Glasses Tour' is emerging as a new tourism content following K-Beauty and medical tourism. According to travel platform Creatrip, the transaction volume for optical shop products between June and October last year increased by approximately 1,608% compared to the previous five months (January to May).

The nationalities of customers who made reservations were also diverse, including those from Asia, North America, and Europe. Americans accounted for about 49% of all reservations, ranking highest, followed by Taiwan at 26% and Germany at 9%. Notably, for optical shops located in Myeong-dong, about 44% of bookings were made together with other tourism products. This highlights how Korean optical shops are becoming a major stop for foreign tourists during their visits.

There are also projections that the domestic eyewear market will continue to grow. The demand for prescription glasses is steadily increasing due to the rising use of smartphones and digital devices, and as glasses become a way to express individuality as a fashion item, the consumer base is also expanding. Recently, more consumers are seeking eyewear and sunglasses that reflect their personal style and preferences, further diversifying the product lineup.

According to a report on the Korean eyewear market by the research firm IMARC Group, the domestic eyewear market size is estimated to reach approximately $3.4 billion (about 4.99 trillion won) by 2025. The market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.81% from 2026 to 2034, reaching about $5.3 billion (about 7.778 trillion won) by 2034.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.