There are a lot of wonderful souvenirs that you can bring home from your trip to Seoul.
To many, Korean cosmetics are the first choice, which can be the gift for themselves and/or the ladies on their gift list. It seems like every lady wants to look like the Korean superstars seen on TV!
Want something more about traditional culture? Beautiful Hanji paper products have a lot to say about the craftsmanship and wisdom the old Koreans.
Read on for more recommendations as well as prices and where to buy them.
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Image credit: Etude HouseKorean cosmetics are definitely on the list of beauty must-haves of many women around the world. So buying these useful little beauties for your wife or girlfriend is a way to bring a smile to her face.
You can choose from lipstick, lip gloss, lip palm, plush makeup, foundation, mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow and so on. But if you ask about the best thing to buy, we recommend BB and CC creams that are of good quality and very popular right now.
Not sure about the brands to go with? Just stay on the safe side and stick to the most popular ones like Innisfree, The Face Shop, Etude House, Tonymoly, Missha, Laneige, and Skinfood.
Best gifts for: Wife, girlfriend, teenage daughter, female friends
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: KRW5,000 – 60,000 (US$5 – 50)
Where to buy
Image credit: The Face ShopKorean beauty masks deserve a separate place on the list because they are amazingly cheap and work wonders for the skin.
The masks are actually sheets of gel, paper, or fabric that contain natural ingredients to nourish the skin. Wearing them makes people look like they have just stepped out of a horror movie but the after effects are worth it.
The masks come in different variants and usually in packs of 5 to 10. Buy these for the ladies in your circle and they will surely be extremely thankful.
Best gifts for: Wife, girlfriend, female friends
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: KRW10,000 – 50,000 (US$8 – 40) for a pack
Where to buy
Image credit: Ivan LianTraditional Korean tea is more about drinks brewed from dried parts of health beneficial plants such as peppermint leaf, citrus flower, plum fruit, and ginseng root. The grains, beans and seeds are also commonly used ingredients in the tea making art of the Koreans.
If you have included a trip to a traditional Korean tea house in your itinerary, you will probably fall in love with those healthy drinks quickly. Why don’t you let your loved ones at home taste the beautiful flavor of Korean tea as well?
Best gifts for: Tea lovers
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: KRW15,000 – 50,000 (US$12 – 42)
Where to buy
Image credit: EmilyGim is the Korean version of Japan’s nori. These dried seaweed products are tasty and known to have many health benefits.
Gim is usually flavored with salt and sesame oil. You can eat it straight from the pack or wrap it around rice and enjoy.
In old Korean tradition, gim is often given as a gift, along with fresh fruit, during Korean Thanksgiving (chuseok) and Lunar New Year. These days, it is a popular souvenir that most visitors bring home from Korea.
This dried food is widely available at supermarkets and grocery stores, making it an easy choice if you have limited time for souvenir shopping.
Best gifts for: Anyone
Portable level: Easy to manage
Average range: KRW5,000 (US$4) for packs of 6 to 10
Where to buy
Image credit: ilkerenderGot kids? Buy them a few pairs of cute and quirky socks with animal and cartoon character images.
No kids? Buy a pair of Oppa socks for that young officemate who loves dancing the Gangnam Style. Or get the Donald Trump socks for someone who is a fan of the new US President.
There are tons of designs, from cute to crazy, that were used to give this daily needed stuff a fun face.
If you are going to explore the popular shopping districts of Seoul like Myeongdong, you will surely find these socks on display together with other popular Korean souvenirs. There are even vending machines for socks in Seoul!
Best gifts for: Children, teenagers, youthful friends and co-workers
Portable level: Easy to manage
Average price: KRW1,000 (US$1)
Where to buy
Image credit: Kaigani TurnerGinseng is known for its many health benefits. It is said that Korea grows the highest quality ginseng in the world thanks to the country’s climate and geography.
Basically there are three types of Korean ginseng you can find in the market: ginseng in its natural form called ‘susam’, dried ginseng known as ‘baeksam’, and steamed then dried ginseng called ‘hongsam’.
If you are not familiar to this kind of Asian traditional medicine, you can buy ginseng-containing products such as ginseng tea, ginseng candy, and ginseng health supplement instead of pure ginseng.
Best gifts for: Family and close friends
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range
From KRW70,000 (US$60) for 600 grams of ginseng
From KRW3400 (US$3) for a ginseng tea box
Where to buy
Image credit: kaffyFor the art lovers and indie fashion fans on your list, there is a treasure trove of unique artworks by budding Korean artists at Hongdae Free Market.
You can choose from the interesting choices of handmade crafts, unique jewelry, wood carvings, and watercolor paintings. There is something for everyone and you are assured that each art piece is original. Buying these is a wonderful way to support young local artists.
A small talk to the artist may give you an interesting story about the artwork to gift it together with the piece to the receiver at home.
The shopping experience at the free market is often enhanced by the delicious food and the lively environment brought about by the public performances by local musicians.
Hongdae Free Market is open every Saturday (from March to November).
Best gifts for: Art lovers, family, and close friends
Portable level: From easy to manage to manageable
Price range: KRW5,000 (US$5) and above
Where: Hongdae Free Market, 19-3 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Image credit: Republic of KoreaHanji refers to the traditional Korean handmade paper made of mulberry bark. This type of durable paper is then used to make various products like wallpaper, lamps, boxes, hand fans, and stationery.
A hanji doll for a little girl? A hanji picture frame for a friend? What better than a usable souvenir that holds a culture within itself?
There are several Hanji craft shops in Seoul where you can learn to make various Hanji products. Why don’t you try it out and bring home your finished craft for a loved one. There is nothing more unique than that!
Best gifts for: Family and friends
Portable level: Manageable
Price range: KRW1,000 (US$1) and above
Where to buy
Image credit: www.dhgate.comPhone cases have an industry of their own in Korea. This is due to the fact that Korea has a very high population of mobile phone users. Combine that with Koreans’ love for cute things and you have an overwhelming selection of uniquely designed phone cases.
Most of the designs are hard to come by at home so you should buy some while being in Seoul. Choose a design that you like and buy matching cases for yourself and your close friends. You can also get a his-and-hers pair for you and your love.
Best gifts for: Teenagers, family, friends and co-workers
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: KRW9,000 – 30,000 (US$8 – 25)
Where to buy
Tteokbokki, the popular rice cakes with sweet spicy sauce, is among the must-try street foods of many foodies when exploring Seoul. Fall in love with them and want to have that Seoul street flavor again at home? Just buy the tteokbokki flavored snacks that are also popular in Korea.
Some might find these tube-shaped chips sweeter and less spicy than the actual tteokbokki but the taste is still there. This would surely satisfy your sudden tteokbokki craving back home.
Tteokbokki snacks are a nice gift for friends and co-workers who love munching on chips and spicy food. These convenient souvenirs can easily fit in a box or in your luggage.
Best gifts for: Family, friends and co-workers
Portable level: Easy to manage
Average price: KRW2,000 (US$2)
Where to buy
