How to buy from Korean websites (proxy buying)
Some Korean websites reject foreign cards, require a Korean phone number, or simply don't ship abroad. Proxy buying (in Korean, 대신구매) solves this: you send K·PARCEL the link, we buy the item for you in Korea, then inspect, consolidate and ship it worldwide. Here's how it works and what it costs.
- 10% service fee · min ₩3,000
- Free inspection photos
- Free consolidation
Why Korean websites block you
It's not you — many Korean malls are built for the domestic market. Common blockers: they only accept Korean-issued cards, they require a Korean phone number or resident ID to sign up, or they simply have no international shipping option. Proxy buying gets around all three, because we check out as a local buyer.
How proxy buying works — step by step
- Send us the product link(s) with any options — size, color, quantity.
- We quote the item cost plus our fee; you pay by PayPal or international card.
- We buy it in Korea and have it delivered to our Seoul warehouse.
- We inspect and photograph it, and combine it with your other orders.
- We ship it to you and you track it in plain English.
What we can buy for you
Almost anything sold in Korea — fashion, K-beauty, food and snacks, electronics, hobby and collectible goods, and KPOP merch. We can also do errand sourcing for items with no online listing: pop-up exclusives, offline-only releases, or a specific local product. If it exists in Korea, we can usually get it.
Payment and fees
You pay in two parts: the item cost (which we pay to the Korean store on your behalf) and a proxy-buying fee, plus the weight-based international shipping when it's ready to send. You pay K·PARCEL with PayPal or an international card — no Korean bank account required. We show every cost before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What is proxy buying (대신구매)?
Proxy buying is when a service in Korea buys an item on your behalf and ships it to you. You send the link, we purchase it locally — handling Korean-only checkouts and payment — then inspect, consolidate and forward it worldwide.
Why won't Korean websites accept my foreign card?
Many Korean malls only accept Korean-issued cards, or require a Korean phone number or ID to register. It's how they're built for the domestic market, not a mistake on your end. Proxy buying bypasses this because we check out as a local buyer.
What can you buy for me?
Almost anything sold in Korea — fashion, K-beauty, food, electronics, hobby goods and KPOP merch — and we can source offline-only or sold-out items too. A few things can't ship by air (perfume, loose batteries, some foods); we'll flag those before you pay.
How do I pay, and what are the fees?
You pay the item cost (we pay the Korean store on your behalf) plus a proxy-buying fee, and weight-based international shipping when it's sent. Pay by international card, PayPal, or Korean bank transfer (KRW) — every cost is shown before you commit.
Prefer to shop yourself? There's also forwarding with a free Korean address. See the full guide to buying from Korea, or check what can and can't ship.