Like anywhere else, if you know where to shop, you're going to get some deals. I'm on Jeju island and a lot of things are more expensive here than on mainland Korea, but things like fish and fruits native to Jeju (Cheju) are cheaper than on the mainland.
I live in Shinjeju, or New Jeju, by Woori mart and there's an Emart nearby. The Woori mart is cheaper for fruits and vegetables and a friend commented that the meat and fish are cheaper there also. Emart has a greater variety of snacks and they have household things like hangers, electronics and a wider selection of clothes. It's basically like a Walmart. The Woori mart also has clothes but Emart's display is much nicer.
There's also something here called the Five Day Market or the 오일 시장. It takes place every five days on calendar days that end with 2 or 7. The market is usually cheaper than stores and the ahjumas will usually throw in a bit more of what you buy. Yesterday was the 22nd so the market was open and the lady threw in a couple of more 귤, tangerines or mandarin oranges*, into our purchases and the fish lady gave us an extra fish because she said the other fish was small.
What we bought at the Market:
large chicken** 6,000
mackerel (2 large) 5,000
hairtail fish*** or 갈치 7,000
tangerines or 귤 **** 5,000 for 2+ kilo's
plastic spatula 1,000 plastic ladle
800socks 500/pair
Other items at the market:
large bunch of bananas 3,000
jeans ~10,000
shirts 5,000
leggings 5,000 - 7,000
Korean pears 1,000 each
love birds 100,000
apples ~ 5,000 for 10
*I think the 귤 are more like mandarin oranges BUT it was decided that they are tangerines.. The tangerines I know from back home in the states have a thicker deep orange peel compared to these "tangerines" which have a thinner light orangish/yellowish with hints of light green on them.
** You can ask the lady to cut it and peel it for you there. It was amazing how easily she handled the chicken and the skin just came right off.
***translation of fish name from babelfish.altavista.com. It's a long silvery colored fish. It's fresher on Jeju island and cheaper to get here than on the mainland.
**** The lady at the market said that the smaller "tangerines" are sweeter and tastier. The smaller ones also cost a little more but I was told by another friend that lots of tangerines get destroyed every year because they don't meet the size requirements for selling, however, they do sell smaller sized ones at the market.
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The Department stores
If you go to the basement of the department stores, you will find the grocery part. Often, the department stores will have more of an expensive, specialty variety. You might have better luck finding not typically korean foods that you are looking for!
there are also 5-day markets
there are also 5-day markets in hallim, jungmun, and soggi-po.
call (064) 1330 ask for someone who speaks english and they will tell you what the dates are they are on.