Olive Young 1+1 Meaning (Plus 9 More Korean Shopping Words)
Walk into any Olive Young and the shelves shout at you in Korean: 1+1, 기획, 증정, 단독. If you can't read them, you can end up paying more for the single bottle while the better deal sits right next to it. I write these signs for a living as a cosmetics marketer, so here are the 10 words worth knowing, with real tags from my own store visit.
At Olive Young, 1+1 means buy one, get one free. 기획 (gihoek) is a special set, usually with extra product, and 증정 (jeungjeong) means a free gift is included. 단독 means it's sold only at Olive Young, and 오특 is the app's one-day deal. Before you buy, compare the price per 10ml on the shelf tag: the set is often much cheaper per ml.
11+1, 2+1 and 3+2
Buy the first number, get the second free.
1+1 (read "won plus won") means buy one, get one free. You pay for one and take two. 2+1 means buy two, get a third free, and you'll also see bigger ones like 3+2 on sheet masks, where you pay for three and take five.
Two things to know. The free item is usually the same product, so you can't mix and match unless the sign says so. And at the till, the deal applies automatically. Just bring both items.
2기획 (special set) vs 단품 (single item)
기획 = special set. 단품 = the product on its own.
기획 (gihoek) is the word you'll see most at Olive Young, and it's the one tourists skip. It means a special set the brand made for a promotion: two full sizes, a bonus mini, a refill, or a cute pouch. 더블기획 is a double set, and 단품 (danpum) is the plain single product.
The set is often the better deal. On this tag, the single 50ml sun serum was ₩17,600, or ₩3,520 per 10ml. The set (two 50ml tubes plus a 15ml mini) was ₩26,600, or ₩2,313 per 10ml. That's about a third cheaper per ml, and the single was sold out anyway.
Look for the small "10ml당" or "100ml당" line on the tag (price per 10ml or 100ml). It's the fastest way to see if a set is really cheaper.
3증정 (free gift)
증정 = included free. 추가 증정 = extra free.
증정 (jeungjeong) means something is given free with the product. 추가 증정 means "extra, free", like the 15ml mini in the set above. 굿즈 증정 means free merchandise, such as the mouse pad on the mask box. The gift is already in the box or handed to you at the till, so you don't need to ask.
4단독 and 한정 (exclusive and limited)
단독 = Olive Young only. 한정 = limited run.
- 단독 (dandok) / 올리브영 단독 / ONLY: made only for Olive Young. You won't find this exact set at other stores.
- 한정 (hanjeong) / 한정기획: a limited edition or limited set. Once it's gone, the store goes back to the regular version.
- 1등 / 1위: "No. 1". It's the brand's own claim, usually backed by small print about which ranking and when.
Brands make Olive Young-only 기획 sets on purpose, because an exclusive set has a better shot at a prominent spot in the store. If I could tell a friend just one thing, it would be to check the price per 10ml first. The 기획 set is almost always cheaper.
5How to read the shelf tag
Red SALE badge, crossed-out price, dates in brackets.
Olive Young uses small electronic shelf tags. Here's what's on them:
- SALE (red badge): the item is discounted right now.
- Crossed-out price: the regular price. The big number is what you pay.
- [10.01–10.31]: the sale period, month and day. After the last date, the price goes back up.
- 10ml당 / 100ml당: price per 10ml or 100ml.
- SOLD OUT: sold out at this store.
- TRY ME: a sticker on testers. Those bottles are for trying, not buying.
6오특 and other app words
오특 = today's special, mostly on the app.
- 오특 (otteuk): short for 오늘의 특가, "today's special". It's a one-day deal on the Olive Young app and website, and the store price can be different.
- 올영세일 (Olive Young Sale): the big seasonal sale, a few times a year. My Olive Young sale calendar has the dates.
- 올영픽 (Olive Young Pick): monthly featured deals.
- 신상 (sinsang): new arrival.
- 대용량 (daeyongnyang): large size.
Final thoughts
You don't need to read Korean to shop Olive Young well. Learn five words (1+1, 기획, 단품, 증정, 단독), check the price per 10ml, and look at the dates on the tag. Then bring your passport for the tax refund at the counter.
FAQ
What does 1+1 mean at Olive Young?
Buy one, get one free. You pay for one item and take two of the same product.
What does 기획 mean in Korean shopping?
A special promotional set, often with extra product or a gift. It's usually cheaper per ml than buying the single item (단품).
What does 증정 mean?
A free gift included with your purchase. 추가 증정 means extra product for free.
What is 오특 on Olive Young?
Short for 오늘의 특가, a one-day special price on the Olive Young app and website. Store prices can differ.
Can I mix products in a 1+1 deal?
Usually not. The free item is the same product unless the sign says otherwise.
- My own photos of shelf tags, boxes and signs at an Olive Young near Isu Station, Seoul, October 5, 2026
- Asia Economy report on Olive Young app vs store prices, July 2024 (view.asiae.co.kr)
Store signs change with every promotion. Spotted something outdated? Tell me.
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