If you’ve ever walked into a Korean convenience store on a hot summer day, you’ve probably noticed the freezer full of colorful ice creams—each with its own story. Today, we’re looking at three legendary treats: Bbangpare (빵파레), Screw Bar (스크류바), and Jaws Bar (죠스바). These aren’t just desserts—they’re pieces of Korean childhood history!
🥐 Bbangpare (빵파레) – The Creamy Classic
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First launched: 1983 by Lotte Confectionery
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Price today: About 1,000–1,200 KRW (~$0.70–$1)
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Where to buy: Almost every convenience store freezer (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24)
Bbangpare looks like a mini croissant filled with vanilla ice cream. The crispy wafer cone gives it a satisfying crunch, while the creamy filling melts in your mouth. It’s a simple, no-frills ice cream that has stayed popular for over 40 years. Some Koreans say eating a Bbangpare feels like “hugging childhood in your hands.” 🥰
🍓 Screw Bar (스크류바) – The Twisty Fun One
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First launched: 1983, also by Lotte
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Price today: Around 1,000 KRW (~$0.70)
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Where to buy: Widely available at convenience stores and supermarkets
Screw Bar is easy to spot—it looks like a red-and-white spiral tower of happiness. With strawberry and apple flavors mixed together, it’s tangy, refreshing, and a little cheeky in design. It’s the kind of ice cream you’d eat after school while your friends dared each other to finish it in one bite. Spoiler: impossible. 😆
🦈 Jaws Bar (죠스바) – The Shark Attack
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First launched: 1983 (yes, it was a legendary year for Korean ice creams!)
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Price today: Around 1,000 KRW (~$0.70)
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Where to buy: Any convenience store, but they sell out quickly on hot days
With its gray “shark fin” top and blood-red base, Jaws Bar is one of the most iconic ice creams in Korea. The cola and fruity punch combo gives you that fizzy kick—perfect for cooling off during sweltering summers. Many Koreans still joke that “you haven’t had a real childhood if you didn’t eat a Jaws Bar after running around the playground.” 🦈
🌟 Why You Should Try Them
These three ice creams aren’t just snacks—they’re Korean cultural icons. Affordable, nostalgic, and still going strong after 40 years, they’ve been a sweet part of growing up for generations. Today, both kids and adults grab them from the freezer without hesitation.
So next time you visit Korea, head to the nearest CU or GS25, grab one of these classics (or all three), and taste the retro sweetness of the 1980s in every bite.
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