Korean Unique Souvenirs When Traveling at Seoul. When you visit
Seoul or is traveling in South Korea, then you would think a gift or souvenir
what can be taken from Seoul to relatives and friends. If anything, Insa-dong
is the best place to get all your souvenir shopping done in one go. Stay away
from the official souvenir shops, unless you like “Made in China” on your
Korean souvenirs. The antiques are kinda iffy, and you may have trouble getting
them on the plane. Here is a useful guide to get a unique souvenir and will not
overload your luggage.
Myeong-dong Cosmetics
The K-beauty thing is now becoming a… thing. The world is starting to take
the Korean cosmetics industry seriously. I’ll admit that I’ve been sucked into
it. Yes, I moisturize. Myeong-dong is the optimal place to shop for cosmetics.
I’ll warn you, the crowds and the stores are CRA-ZAY! If you’re in a hurry or
don’t know what to buy, go ahead and get a bunch of face packs. You can usually
get a good deal for a bunch of them. They come in different–flavors
isn’t the word I’m looking for. What I suggest is trying one of these face
packs after chilling them in the refrigerator, especially if you’re recovering
from sunburn. It’s intense.
Korean Hanbok
Korean traditional clothes as well as other traditional styles can easily
be found here. I suggest buying these for kids. They’re cheaper and easier to
fit in a suitcase.
Korean Name Stamps
This is one gift I like to give. I’ve even given one to Anthony Bourdain
when he came to Seoul. There are lots of shops that make personalized name
stamps. You can give them a design, your name in English, or have them make
your name in Korean. They usually take fifteen minutes to make, and the prices
start at around W30,000 (~$27 USD).
Korean Traditional Paper
The art is perfectly fine to buy in Insa-dong. Yet the true craft is traditional
Korean paper. You can find this in calligraphy shops. It really is a
traditional art. It encapsulates Korea’s rustic beauty. I particularly like
really rough paper with real flowers pressed in it. I sent some in a care
package to my family in the U.S. one Christmas, and my grandmother liked it so
much she framed it and hung it on her dining room wall. Best of all, it’s
lightweight, and it folds, and it’s an interesting conversation piece.
Korean Wedding Ducks
These wooden ducks that look like duck decoys are used in traditional
marriage ceremonies. If you know anyone getting married soon, this is a good
souvenir for them.
Korean Socks
I used to laugh at the idea of buying the weird socks in Insa-dong, but I
have actually given these to nieces and nephews, and they love them. We have a
joke that you’re not famous in Korea until your face is on socks. You can get
them with Korean celebrities. My favorite are the ones with Shin Ramyeon logos.
Korean Stickers
For the kids, stickers are so fun and unique. There are some that work the
same as paper dolls, where you dress up a princess in sticker clothes. These
have been my standby for kids gifts since 2004, and it’s always worked. Kyobo
Bookstore is a great source, as is any stationery shop.
Wooden Models
Another fun gift for kids or the modeler in your life is these little
wooden models of traditional Korean buildings. You can find them in bookstores
or in the book section of supermarkets.
Korean Food
Speaking of supermarkets, they have been my go-to source for souvenirs in
any country I visit. I love finding fun foods while wandering the aisles. I’ve
made the mistake of buying too many jarred products, which did weigh down my
luggage in London. In Korea, the snack aisles are loads of fun. The convenience
stores are great as well. A word of warning, don’t try to bring makgeolli, as
the pressure on the plane will make it explode (oops).
Tailor Made Clothing
Korea used to be one of the world’s top textile manufacturers. We have a
lot of places that will make a suit to your specifications for a decent price.
Many of these tailors are in Itaewon. I personally like to get tailor made
shirts from Hamilton Shirts. They have my specs on file. I just choose the
fabric and the style, and they ship it to me within ten days. They will even
ship overseas–something to keep in mind. When my brother was visiting on his
birthday, I bought him a tailor made shirt that was delivered to his house in
America after he returned
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