Korean starting prices: Gen 2 is not Gen 3
KRW means South Korean won. These are announced starting prices, not the lowest offers across Korean shops or a currency conversion of a US price. Match the generation first, then the frame, size and lenses. Prescription fitting may change the total.
| Product | Starting price | Announcement |
|---|---|---|
| Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 | KRW 690,000 | Meta, May 19, 2026; Korean sales from May 25 |
| Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 | KRW 740,000 | Shinsegae I&C, September 28, 2026 |
A May launch review is no longer the whole range
The original Korean Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 range included Wayfarer, Skyler and Headliner. A June 11 update added a June 15 Korean launch for Blayzer Optics Gen 2 and Scriber Optics Gen 2, aimed at prescription wearers. Oakley Vanguard and HSTN are also different lines: performance and lifestyle, respectively. Meta's September 24 announcement introduced Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 and Ray-Ban Meta Audio. It listed Gen 3 from US$449 and Audio from US$349, with Audio shipping from October 13. Those dollar prices are not verified Korean checkout prices. Nor does a global announcement prove that your local shop has a particular frame today. When comparing listings, write down the family, generation, frame and lens option; a shared Wayfarer name is not enough.
Where to look in Korea, and what a listing does not tell you
Shinsegae I&C's September 28 announcement names Electromart inside E-MART, Lotte Hi-Mart, SSG.com, SK Telecom, the KT online mall and selected dealerships. This is a channel list, not a stock check for every branch. Ask the branch for the exact frame and lens option, a fitting appointment if needed, and the final price before travelling. If you are visiting Korea, ask whether that shop can accept your payment method and arrange delivery within your stay. We have not tested foreign cards, local identity verification or tourist tax refunds. For an imported or resale pair, ask who handles a fault and what purchase evidence they need. Before taking a Korean purchase abroad, get the service arrangements for your destination in writing; availability in Korea does not establish overseas warranty coverage.
Two Korean listings to check against your quote
The public SSG and T Direct Shop product pages displayed the configurations and prices below when read on October 21, 2026. Their exact links are in Sources. SSG names the brown lens B15 in its model details; T Direct Shop specifies the standard fit. Neither listing is a fitted prescription quote. The same price does not make these the same product: the frame and lenses differ. No order was placed, and stock, delivery date, coupons and the final checkout total were not confirmed. Use the product names to ask the seller about your own configuration, not as a lowest-price recommendation.
| Shop | Gen 3 configuration | Displayed price |
|---|---|---|
| SSG | Aviator, Havana / brown B15 lenses | KRW 740,000 |
| T Direct Shop (SK Telecom) | Wayfarer, matte black / clear lenses, standard fit | KRW 740,000 |
Compare complete quotes, not the headline starting price
Ask two sellers for the same configuration. A cheaper frame-only listing and a fitted prescription pair are not equivalent offers. These questions make the difference visible before payment; they do not imply that every seller charges each item separately.
| Item | Ask the seller |
|---|---|
| Exact product | Family, generation, frame size and model code |
| Lenses | Lens type, prescription suitability and the fitted total price |
| Included items | Charging case and any accessories included in this offer |
| After-sales service | Which local contact handles faults, under which written terms? |
| Returns | What changes after opening, pairing or ordering prescription lenses? |
Korean translation is confirmed; test your intended conversation
Meta's July 6 Korean announcement confirms Korean live translation, expanding the supported set to 20 languages. Translated speech plays through the glasses; text appears in the Meta AI app. This is more specific than saying that every AI function works in Korean. If translation is the reason for buying, ask for a demonstration with the two languages you need. Check the app and glasses are updated, whether the required language pair appears, and what connection the demonstration uses. Try an ordinary sentence with a place name, then check the text as well as the audio. We have not tested translation accuracy or offline Korean operation. Do not buy on an assumption that an overseas video proves either.
NAVER Map walking directions: check your phone first
NAVER announced voice walking directions for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta on October 12, 2026. Its announcement says Android is supported first, with iOS to follow in stages. It does not give a precise iOS rollout date or establish compatibility for every individual glasses model. If navigation in Korea matters to you, ask the seller to demonstrate it with your own phone and the exact glasses before buying. Check the current app and language options too: the announcement does not establish which spoken languages will be available for your setup. We have not tested the connection, navigation, language support or use outside Korea.
Try the frame with your phone and your normal routine
Ray-Ban's support FAQ requires a compatible phone, the Meta AI app and a Meta account for setup. Check current app compatibility on your own phone instead of relying on a remembered minimum OS version. The same FAQ explains how captures are imported through the app; ask to see that step if hands-free photos are your main use. Wear the actual frame long enough to notice pressure at the temples or nose. Have the optician confirm prescription suitability for that exact model before ordering. Compare the quoted pair with the glasses you already wear, not just the display sample. If neither capture nor translation solves a recurring problem for you, there is no need to pay for those features simply because they are new.
The capture light is a signal, not permission
Meta describes a white capture LED that signals photos and videos recorded for the gallery. Its July privacy FAQ distinguishes those captures from content you choose to share or send to Meta AI. Do not treat camera capture, AI use and public posting as the same privacy choice. Tell people before recording them, respect venue rules and put the camera away in private settings. A visible light is not a substitute for asking. Before your first outing, review the app's sharing and AI settings and make sure you know how to stop recording. This guide does not assess the lawfulness of a particular recording.