Claw Machine Arcades in Seoul: Visitor Tips
Playing claw machines (inhyeong-ppopgi) in Seoul: where the arcades are, how payment works, Korean phrases and prize figure tips for visitors.
What is 'inhyeong-ppopgi'?
Claw machines are called 인형뽑기 (inhyeong-ppopgi, 'doll picking') in Korea. Large multi-floor arcades in busy districts such as Gangnam, Hongdae and Myeongdong stock the same Japanese prize figures (Bandai Spirits, SEGA, FuRyu, Taito) you see in Japan, often arriving a little after the Japan release.
Paying
Machines usually take ₩1,000 bills or a store card topped up at a kiosk. Price per play is written on each machine — check before you start. Keep small bills; some machines give a bonus play for larger amounts.
Useful Korean
세팅 다시 해주세요 (setting dasi haejuseyo) — please reset the prize. / 봉투 주세요 (bongtu juseyo) — a bag, please. / 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) — how much is this?
Finding a specific figure
Korean YouTubers post strategy videos showing which store has which figure. Each figure page here links those videos with the timestamp where that figure is played.