Myeongdong Squid Game Dalgona: Prices, Cash-Only Rules, and What You Actually Get
The Squid Game dalgona sold at Myeongdong's street stalls costs ₩2,000 for the candy on its own, ₩3,000 in a small case, and ₩5,000 in a large case. The stall takes cash only. Credit cards and mobile payments are not accepted, so bring bills with you. When you finish eating, you can hand the empty packaging back to the stall instead of carrying it around.
What kind of stall sells Squid Game dalgona in Myeongdong?
The dalgona from the Netflix series Squid Game is sold right there on the street in Myeongdong. A green tracksuit with the number 456 hangs above the stall, and a screen plays footage of the dalgona game on a loop. You remember the show, right?
This stall sells more than dalgona. The gonggi stones, ttakji paper tiles, and spinning tops from Squid Game are laid out alongside the candy.
They may look like games invented for the show, but every game in Squid Game is one Korean kids actually played growing up. I played all of them with my friends when I was young.
So what does the dalgona actually cost? The price list is posted at the front of the stall, and I copied it down exactly as written.
How much does dalgona cost in Myeongdong?
A posted price list hangs at the front of the stall. The table below is copied straight from that sign.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dalgona | ₩2,000 |
| Dalgona in a case (small) | ₩3,000 |
| Dalgona in a case (large) | ₩5,000 |
| Gonggi stones | ₩5,000 |
| Squid Game full toy pack | ₩30,000 |
The sign is posted under the Myeongdong Square name, and each item is written in both Korean and English with its price. You can check the cost from the sign without asking anyone.
There is a second sign on the display counter itself reading Dalgona ₩3,000 and case ₩5,000. The posted price list and the counter sign point to the same amounts.
One thing does get confusing here. It is the same dalgona, so why is it split across ₩2,000, ₩3,000, and ₩5,000?
What is the difference between ₩2,000 dalgona and dalgona in a case?
The price gap comes from the packaging, not the candy. The ₩2,000 option is the dalgona handed to you with no case, while the ₩3,000 and ₩5,000 options come packed in one.
The ₩3,000 version comes in a clear plastic case. The case is thin, and it looked to me like the dalgona inside could crack if the case got pressed in a bag.
The ₩5,000 version comes in a sturdier case, closer to an aluminum tin. The case holds its shape, so there is almost no risk of the candy breaking while you carry it.
If you plan to eat it on the spot, the ₩2,000 option is enough. If you plan to put it in a suitcase and take it home, the ₩5,000 large case is the safer choice.
The surface of each dalgona is stamped with a Squid Game shape — a star, a triangle, an umbrella. They are the same shapes the contestants tried to pick out with a needle.
So what about the toys sold next to the candy?
Does the stall also sell the toys from Squid Game?
It does. The toys sit in their own section beside the dalgona display.
Gonggi stones cost ₩5,000. They come in a small plastic box, so you can carry them without losing any of the pieces. Gonggi was a game girls played more than boys.
The full pack, which bundles several games together, costs ₩30,000. Gonggi stones, ttakji paper tiles, and a spinning top all come in the one bag.
Whether you take one item as a gift or go for the full pack, this is where you decide. First, though, you need to know how payment works here.
Can you pay by card at the Myeongdong dalgona stall?
You cannot. This stall takes cash only. Credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payments are all off the table.
It is an open-air street stall, and cash is the fastest and simplest way to settle up.
Working out what to bring is simple.
- Dalgona only → ₩2,000
- Dalgona in a case → ₩3,000 or ₩5,000
- Gonggi stones → ₩5,000
- Full toy pack → ₩30,000
If you are out of cash, it is easier to withdraw some at an ATM or a convenience store inside Myeongdong before you come. The next part is what most people overlook.
Where do you throw away the trash after eating?
You hand it back to the stall. Along the bottom of the price sign it reads "쓰레기 버려드립니다" — we'll throw your trash away for you — with the same sentence printed beside it in English, Japanese, and Chinese.
Packaging is the most awkward part of buying street food. There are not many bins along the streets of Myeongdong, so you can end up walking a long way with an empty case in your hand.
This stall put that line on its own price sign. Once you have finished, pass the empty case or wrapper back and go.
So can you buy dalgona and take it back to your hotel, or all the way home?
Can you take dalgona home as a gift? How long does it keep?
You can. A sign on the display counter reads Expiration date: 30 days. Dalgona packed in a case keeps for up to 30 days.
That is long enough to buy some on the last day of your trip and carry it home. One thing to keep in mind is that dalgona is hardened sugar, which makes it fragile.
If it is going into a bag for a long journey, the ₩5,000 case with the firmer shell is the safer pick.
So how does it taste? I bought one and ate it myself.
What does Myeongdong dalgona taste like?
It is melted sugar, so there is one flavor: sweet. It is not spicy, and there are no spices in it at all.
When I was a kid, a dalgona vendor would come around the neighborhood, and my friends and I would gather around his cart to buy some. If my memory is right, dalgona cost 50 won apiece in the late 1980s.
With that in mind, I handed over ₩2,000 in cash and ate one. Dalgona tastes exactly as sweet now as it did back then.
It is sized to hold in one hand and eat while you walk through Myeongdong. For a visitor from abroad, the texture and the taste are likely to be new, and I suspect they stay with you for a while.
Here is something I watched happen at the stall. Two women visiting from Japan spent a while looking over the dalgona, then pulled cash out of a bag and bought the large dalgona case.
It was a small scene that showed how far Squid Game really traveled.
After tasting it, you might want to try making it yourself. The method is simpler than it looks.
What do you need to make dalgona at home?
Three things. A ladle, sugar, and baking soda.
The steps go like this.
- Put sugar in the ladle and hold it over the flame until the sugar melts.
- Once the sugar has fully melted, add the baking soda.
- The mixture puffs up and turns a light brown.
- Keep stirring so it does not set.
- Drop it onto a cutting board with a sharp tap.
- Before it hardens, press a mold firmly into it to make the shape you want.
- Wait about five minutes for it to cool, then eat.
Trying Squid Game dalgona in Myeongdong and then making it at home turns the trip into something that lasts a little longer.
Frequently asked questions
How much is dalgona in Myeongdong?
Dalgona costs ₩2,000. In a case, the small size is ₩3,000 and the large is ₩5,000. These amounts are written on the price list posted at the front of the stall.
Can I pay by card?
No. This stall takes cash only. Credit cards and mobile payments cannot be used, so bring cash with you. Dalgona alone needs ₩2,000; the full toy pack needs ₩30,000.
Where do I throw away the trash after eating?
Hand it back to the stall. The price sign carries the line "we'll throw your trash away for you" in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. Pass the empty case or wrapper over when you are done.
Can I take dalgona home as a souvenir?
Yes. The display sign reads Expiration date: 30 days, so it keeps for up to 30 days. To reduce the chance of it cracking in transit, choose the ₩5,000 large case with the firmer shell.
Does the stall sell the Squid Game toys too?
It does. Gonggi stones cost ₩5,000 and come in a plastic box. The full pack with gonggi stones, ttakji paper tiles, and a spinning top costs ₩30,000.
Where to next for street food in Myeongdong?
Dalgona is a mouthful of sugar, which usually means a real meal comes next. Beyond this stall, the streets of Myeongdong are lined with vendors who post their prices the same way.
Reading through our other posts on Myeongdong street food prices and how to order will cut down the time you spend hesitating in front of a stall. What are you curious about next?
