Top 10 Best Souvenirs To Bring Home From South Korea

Traveling to Korea, you might be worrying about what to get. Souvenirs are great memorabilia that represents how we remember special people despite being apart. It also serves as a reminder of a precious moment made while traveling. Consequently, we would want to be selective of the items – with consideration of baggage weight of course!

It may all get overwhelming but don’t you worry as we’re here to walk you through 10 best souvenirs from Korea that you can bring home. The list would provide various choices that is suitable for everyone to enjoy. Some souvenirs could be simple, quirky, or even elegant showcasing the treasures of Korea.

1. Jewelry

If you’re looking for a timeless piece, you can never go wrong with jewelry. From simple and dainty designs to eye-catching pieces, Korea’s got you covered. Not only are they affordable, they also utilize quality materials. Hence, if you’re looking for specific items such as sterling silver or whatnot, there are high chances of seeing them around your area. Some recommended stores would be SALE50, REDEYE and SIGONGGAN. If you simply want to explore an area then JongNo Jewelry District might be up your alley. The place has a variety to offer where you can either have ready made pieces or a custom one. 

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2. Clothing

Korea is known to produce many fashion icons such as Jennie of BLACKPINK and SeulGi of Red Velvet. Hence, it is no surprise that not only do they offer top notch jewelry but other fashion items as well. They offer multiple local brands and styles that match the trends. The most unique and popular recommendation across multiple forums would be Korean socks. There is just something, perhaps the design or quality that makes them the most comfortable and durable. If you’re staying in Seoul, set your sights on areas such as Garosu-Gil, InsaDong, or Dongdaemun for local brands.

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3. K-Pop Merchandise

This might sound cliche but it’s true that you can purchase some fan goods and merchandise especially with the worldwide phenomenon K-Pop has made. Many of the K-Pop entertainment companies have official and pop-up stores across the city. You can even drop by a fancafe to get an experience of a lifetime. 

4. Skin care Product

Did you really come to Korea if you left the country without a single skin care product? This is the best opportunity to purchase all those skin care restocks or gifts, especially with your passport for that tax free purchase. Skin care is a wonderful souvenir for everyone because the skin is part of the body that we’re trying to keep healthy. Simple items such as lip balms or even face masks already go a long way.

5. Traditional Goods

If you prefer a souvenir with cultural significance, traditional goods are the way to go. These treasures can be found all over Korea and create unique memorabilia. But if you’re in Seoul, take a stop by a Korean Folk Village and walk through a look into the past. Through this, you might see souvenir stores that hold a diverse range of selection for everyone to enjoy. Examples of these are traditional fans called buchae, handicrafts, and figurines.

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6. Handmade and Customized Goods

If you want a more individualized souvenir then customized goods have been the trend recently. The first recommendation is custom keychains that gives you the freedom to choose from short or long keychains and different patch designs. Next, phone cases can also be customized. The most popular location being in the DongDaeMun market where you can roam around until you find the decorations you want or stores like Bonobo Cafe. There are also workshops that would let your creativity out such as pottery and tufting.

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7. Shot Glass

While some may recommend bringing home Soju, spice it up by bringing home shot glasses! Korea has some of the best designs for shot glasses. You can purchase one with tourist details or even those with more traditional designs. Whether it is to be used for drinking or a display, it is still a memorable one.

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8. Packed Food

This may be a common souvenir but you can’t really go wrong with it. Food is to be experienced and that saying goes even from a fresh or packed food standpoint. The most popular would be instant noodles, especially with all the craze on food TikTok. But there is so much more to explore such as, choco pie, candy or instant coffee. If you want to make it even more special, go for traditional ones such as tea, yakgwa and ginseng.

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9. Stationery

Korea is not new to the stationery scene. In actuality, many of their local artists are well known online. Hence, it is no surprise that many of them would put their work onto physical products. That is where art stores, or more commonly known in Korea as prop shops, come in. If you want to check it out, the most recommended area to look for them is in MangWon-Dong. The array of designs are ones you won’t see anywhere else. In addition, stationery will always be a part of our life, making it a valuable souvenir to take home. 

10. Cookware or Eating Ware 

Another unique recommendation is cookware and eating utensils which are iconic on their own. The Korean ramen pot, also called yangeun naembi, which we always see in K-Dramas is one. Another would be the paired metal chopsticks and spoon. Bringing these items home would truly bring back memories of your trip. 

Overall, traveling to Korea will truly overwhelm you with sights, taste and even sounds! But maybe we don’t have to look too far, these items might just be in a street near you. So, make sure to check these items out and see which one you or your loved one might like.