Shopping in Korea: Fun Souvenir and Gifts to Get
When visiting the vibrant cities in South Korea, it’s hard not to shop when you encounter a wide array of items everywhere you go. From clothing to snacks, to accessories and beauty, there are so many enticing options.
Markets and streets like Myeongdong shopping street showcase an exuberant display of department stores, gift vendors, cafes, and beauty shops.
With an overwhelming amount of goods, one might wonder, what are the best items to bring back home with you? Keep reading below to see some of the top souvenir and gift items to buy in Korea.
Hanbok
This is a traditional Korean dress, which typically consists of an upper garment that is a jacket and a lower garment which would be a skirt. It’s often worn for special ceremonies such as birthdays and weddings. The design is elegant and simple.
Today, there are more modern options that would make for a beautiful gift or souvenir to bring back home. Alternatively, a hanbok doll also would be a great gift. Hanbok dolls are a lovely small figurine wearing the traditional hanbok dress.
Instant Noodles
Instant noodles are a quick, delicious snack with various flavours and spice levels. Two top brands to look out for are Nongshim and Buldak. These can be purchased in single packages, which are great for trying an assortment of flavors.
They are also available in a package of 4 or 5 individual bags. Black Bean is a unique flavour that is worth trying, as it is a dry stir-fry rather than served in a liquid like typical instant noodles.
Sheet Masks
Sheet masks are an incredibly popular souvenir item in Korea. They are single-use face masks soaked in a serum designed with various benefits for your skin. Sheet masks often focus on hydration.
The best thing about the sheet masks is that they are affordable and are often sold individually which makes it great for trying a variety of different types. Popular brands of sheet masks include Mediheal and Torriden.
Metal Chopsticks
Korea would be the best place to get metal chopsticks as they are ubiquitous as a daily-use utensil. Metal chopsticks are quite durable, and often have a flat shape. They are usually made from stainless steel or other metals.
Metal spoons are also sold in sets or alongside metal chopsticks. A utensil is a practical gift of souvenir to bring back with you and should last you a long time!
OSULLOC Tea
OSULLOC is a major tea brand in Korea. The tea leaves are grown on Jeju Island, and they offer unique flavours such as Pear Honey and Jeju Tangerine. These teas combine either a green or black tea base with fresh fruity flavour.
They also offer green tea as well as matcha powder. With the cute packaging, these are also wonderful for giving as a gift. In Seoul, there are various OSULLOC Tea Shops where you can browse their products, along with a cafe where you can enjoy a beverage or sweet treat.
Korean Beauty (K-Beauty) Products
K-Beauty is a big force in the skin care and cosmetics market. From multi-step skincare routines, to unique ingredients, Korean has plenty to offer. Today, many popular Korean beauty brands are sold in North America, such as LANEIGE and Innisfree.
You can often find these brands at a lower cost in Korea than you would in North America. While visiting Korea, it would be a good opportunity to explore the wide assortment of beauty brands and pick up some products to bring back with you. You’ll have access to some interesting brands that are available predominantly in South Korea.
Packaged Snacks & Sweets
Packaged snacks are a great souvenir as they can be brought back home to enjoy at a later date. There are plenty of Korean brands of snacks, such as the chocolate covered cookie sticks known as Pepero. Haitai’s Honey Butter Chips are another well-known snack.
HBAF Almonds is a Korean brand of coated almonds offering a wide variety of unique flavours, such as wasabi, spicy chicken, and matcha. The package design is quite fun, making it a great gift item as well.
Whimsical Keychains
There’s also a wide variety of adorable and eye-catching keychains to choose from. Find keychains with fluffy plush animals, mini food items such as soju bottles or bibimbap, mini hanbok dolls, as well as landmarks such as palaces and temples.
Stationery
In Korea, you can find beautiful, high-quality stationery products. These include notebooks, journals, planners, mechanical pencils, pens and more. These are an excellent souvenir or gift item as it is practical. There are many designs featuring adorable characters, as well as more minimalist styles. Journals and notebooks often feature light pastel colors.
Cute Socks
While you browse around shopping streets like Myeongdong in Seoul, you won’t find a shortage of socks that pop out with their cute and whimsical designs, featuring various characters, animals, food items such as kimchi, and much more. There’s a plethora of options to choose from, they’re fun and low-cost, making it a fun option to gift.
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