Olive Young is famous for skincare, but its snack shelves are becoming a destination of their own.
For international visitors, Olive Young often means sunscreen, sheet masks and serums. Yet the Korean retailer also operates its own snack brand, Delight Project (딜라이트 프로젝트), with products ranging from crunchy bagel chips to fruit snacks and protein shakes.
That makes Olive Young an unusual shopping destination: you can pick up a moisturiser and a Korean snack souvenir in the same visit. But what does the evidence actually say about the food range’s popularity?
Meet Delight Project, Olive Young’s snack brand
Olive Young traces the brand’s beginnings to its FOOD PROJECT launch in 2015. Its signature bagel chips arrived in 2017, followed by a Delight Project rebrand in 2021.
The company describes the brand as focused on ingredients, preparation methods, taste and manageable portions. Its signature bagel chips are made by slicing bagels thinly and baking them again for a crisp texture.
Olive Young’s corporate site calls these bagel chips its No. 1 snack in the general-food category. That’s a brand-specific category claim, not evidence that a bag of chips outsells every skincare item across the entire retailer.
The reviews are hard to ignore
On Olive Young’s Korean shopping site, Delight Project’s bagel-chip product listing displays a 4.9-star average and more than 99,999 reviews. Its protein-shake assortment also shows more than 99,999 reviews and a 4.8-star average.
Other snack categories have substantial review activity, too. A traditional-snack assortment covering items such as crispy seaweed or rice snacks and dalgona shows tens of thousands of reviews, while a fruit-chip and dried-fruit assortment has displayed more than 100,000 reviews.
These are review counts shown on product or assortment pages at the time checked, not unique-buyer totals or a verified cross-category sales ranking. Listings and ratings can change, and a bundled listing may combine reviews for multiple flavours or options.
Still, this level of customer feedback makes snacks worth noticing when exploring Korean retail trends.
What should first-time shoppers try?
Bagel chips: The signature choice, particularly if you enjoy crisp, savoury-sweet snacks. Flavours vary, so check the package before choosing.
Fruit chips: A lighter-feeling souvenir option for shoppers who prefer fruit-based snacks. Ingredient lists and added sugar vary by product.
Traditional Korean snacks: Look for options inspired by bugak (crispy coated seaweed or vegetables), yakgwa (traditional honey cookies) and dalgona (caramelised sugar candy).
Protein shakes: Convenient for some shoppers, but compare protein content, sugar, allergens and serving size rather than assuming every product is automatically healthier.
Importantly, ‘healthier’ marketing does not mean every snack is low in calories or suitable for all diets.
Buying Delight Project outside Korea
Olive Young Global lists Delight Project products, including bagel chips, pasta chips and selected limited editions. However, international availability can differ by country, and licensing restrictions may apply to character collaborations.
For example, a Sanrio-edition Jeju Udo peanut product listing specifically excludes shipping to the UK and Canada. Always confirm your destination before relying on a product’s availability.
For travellers, snacks can be easier gifts than skincare because they don’t require matching a recipient’s skin type. Check expiry dates, allergens and any import restrictions for your destination.
The ThisKovery Take
Olive Young’s snack success says something interesting about Korean beauty retail. The store is no longer simply a place to solve a skincare problem. It’s becoming a broader discovery destination where shoppers can explore small treats, souvenirs and lifestyle products alongside cosmetics. Delight Project may not have replaced skincare, but it has certainly earned a place in the shopping basket.
Sources: Olive Young brand history; Olive Young Korean brand store and reviews; Olive Young Global availability example. Related on ThisKovery: What Tourists Buy in Korea; Olive Young vs YesStyle vs Stylevana.