Are You Debating Which Korean Souvenirs to Buy? Here are Some Tips!

Getting souvenirs is a must when you visit and/or live abroad. If you are debating which souvenirs you should buy before leaving Korea to head back to your home country, you are in the right place! Here are some nice items that are popular with many foreigners traveling the country.

The first one is the Korean seal. When it comes to souvenirs, many people try to buy things that represent the unique traditions and culture of the country. Name seals are popular these days, and allow you to have a name in Korean carved in the seal, which is original, unique, and special. There’s no doubt getting the name of your special someone carved in the seal would be an unforgettable gift for him or her!

The second souvenir idea is cosmetics. Korean cosmetics are popular because they are affordable, high quality, and diverse. Korean cosmetics have become so well-known that there is a special term for the entire industry: K-Beauty. There is a range of options, so you can find some basic skin care products such as moisture creams, cushion pacts (combining foundation and powder), which were first developed in Korea, and facial skincare sheet masks called ‘mask packs’. If you have some friends who are greatly interested in K-Beauty, you must not forget this item because they may be hoping to get one of these from you!

Last but not least, there is Korean food. While in Korea, you must have tried the dried seaweed that is commonly eaten with rice. This flavor is probably novel for most foreigners. At a glance, it looks like a black sheet of paper, but many people love seaweed because it is slightly seasoned with salt. Instant foods (retort food) are also popular as they are simple to prepare. Just warm them up in the microwave or in a pot on the stove and you can taste the typical flavors of Korea. Besides microwavable foods, snacks are highly recommended. 

One example is “K-almond” (flavored almond snacks), which is particularly popular among young people. They offer honey butter, Injeolmi (Korean rice cake), and baked corn flavored almonds. 

The real value of gifts lies in the time and effort you have put into thinking about the person who receives them. When going back home, bring fond memories of Korea with you and share happiness with your friends and acquaintances with some meaningful souvenirs!