16 Must-Buy Korean Souvenirs | 2024 Korea Travel Guide
Not sure what kind of souvenirs and gifts to get during your trip? Check out this list!
- 1. Packaged Korean Food
- 2. Korean Instant Noodles
- 3. Korean Snacks
- 4. Dried Food Snacks
- 5. Ginseng
- 6. Korean Makeup and Skin Care Products
- 7. Korean Beverages
- 8. Korean Socks
- 9. Korean Traditional Souvenirs
- 10. K-Pop Goods
- 11. Starbucks Goods
- 12. Korean Postcards
- 13. Stationery
- 14. Kakao Friends
- 15. Phone Accessories
- 16. Summer Items
A big part of traveling is the fun and memorable souvenirs you can get! There are lots of cool souvenirs you can get in Korea as well! Here's a list of some Korean souvenirs we recommend you get during your trip.
You can find a lot of these snacks and souvenirs in Myeongdong. If you're heading to Myeongdong, we recommend getting the Myeongdong Pass for special discounts!
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1. Packaged Korean Food
Korea's pre-packaged food industry is huge! There are plenty of easy-fix meals in Korea and they usually come in nice, convenient packaging. You can buy almost anything you can think of, from canned foods to soup, tteokbokki, and even rice bowls!
The concept of these packaged food products is similar to instant noodles. However, these packages have a much wider of variety of choices that are similar to real Korean cuisine.
You can easily find these pre-packaged food from all small, medium and large supermarkets. They are extremely cheap, and they make a perfect gift for you and your friends!
2. Korean Instant Noodles
Of course, you have to check out the selection of instant ramen noodles in Korea! There are so many different types to try, and you may be able to find some newer flavors that are only available in Korea.
When you are purchasing instant noodles as souvenirs, we recommend trying to find new releases or flavors that you can only find in Korea! Keep in mind that the ones that are very popular are sold out sometimes!
If you're not sure what types of instant ramen to get in Korea, check out our blog for some recommendations!
3. Korean Snacks
Korean snacks are simple, convenient, and delicious souvenirs! Before you purchase South Korean snacks, make sure you go to the local supermarket first. The local supermarkets usually have better promotions and you can get multiple snacks for less!
One of the most famous Korean snacks is Choco Pie! This chocolate coated marshmallow cake is one of the best-selling Korean snacks of all time. They are constantly coming out with new flavors as well, so be sure to check out a local mart to see what they have!
Sweet and salty Korean snacks are so addictive that once you start eating them, you won't be able to stop. The Honey Butter Almond snack series are especially addicting and they come in various flavors, such as wasabi, caramel almond, and roasted corn, and they're bite-sized so you can enjoy them as a side dish for beer!
4. Dried Food Snacks
If you have a chance to visit a traditional Korean market, we recommend you purchase dried fruits, a very addictive snack. Since it is a natural snack made by drying fruits, it is healthier than regular snacks and they can be stored for a long time in the refrigerator!
The most popular dried snacks are these freeze-dried strawberries! They're crispy when you chew it at first, and then melts away in your mouth. Also, it doesn't taste sour at all and is sweet, so it's good to eat as a snack, and it's very good to eat with milk or cereal.
Freeze-Dried Strawberries | 10% Off
Dried sweet potatoes are also a very popular snack in Korea. This snack can be easily purchased not only in traditional markets but also in large marts. The sweet taste of sweet potatoes remains the same, and the chewy texture is added to it, making it a sweet snack that both children and adults like!
5. Ginseng
Ginseng is well known as a famous Korean specialty, and many people like to gift it to older relatives or parents. If you're looking for high-quality, authentic ginseng, we recommend the ginseng market located in Jegi-dong!
You can purchase a variety of ginseng here, including raw ginseng, dried ginseng, and ginseng extract. It depends on your budget, but most tourists purchase products worth 50,000 KRWR to 80,000 KRW.
You can take ginseng purchased here back home without any problems because they are vacuum-packaged. There are various ways to eat ginseng. You can eat it raw, make it into a drink with honey, ginseng, and milk, or grill it and eat it using various recipes. Click on the links below to read more about the Jegi-dong Ginseng Market and more famous ginseng markets in Korea.
If you find it difficult to buy ginseng at the market, you can buy Hong Sam Jung (홍삼정), a brand that sells red ginseng extract in plastic packs. It can be purchased at marts, department stores, and online, and it is a simple health food.
6. Korean Makeup and Skin Care Products
Of course, you have to buy K-beauty products while in Korea! Korean beauty products are really affordable and are known to have very high-quality products. Consider buying some skincare or makeup from a local Korean brand, also known as a road shop brand, or Olive Young, a Korean drugstore. You'll be surprised by the quality!
You can find lots of high-quality products at reasonable prices in Korean cosmetic stores, so we recommend you buy them when you come to Korea!
Korean face masks are a great gift to give to anyone as they are affordable and great to use! You can buy cheap face masks from Daiso, Artbox, and Olive Young. Check out our blog about popular Korean face masks in the link below!
Currently, the Abib face masks are the most popular ones to get in Korea. Korean beauty items are indeed must-buy gifts in Korea and the packaging is always so cute! These beauty items will make great gifts for your friends and family.
7. Korean Beverages
*You must be over 19 years old to consume and purchase alcohol in Korea.
Alcohol (Soju)
Soju is the most famous alcoholic beverage in Korea, and is relatively inexpensive. There are many different types of soju, including flavored soju! It has indeed become one of the top must-buy gifts in Korea.
Soju used to be sold only in glass bottles, but now many manufacturers use light plastic bottles. Soju in plastic bottles makes a perfect souvenir because you don't have to worry about the glass breaking or about weight!
Just as the shape and size of the glass used are determined by the type of alcohol you're drinking, there is a separate glass dedicated to soju. Some people who fall in love with soju on their trips to Korea buy soju glasses as souvenirs, especially special soju glasses with cute paintings, which are very meaningful souvenirs for soju lovers.
Makgeolli
Source: 복순도가 (Boksoondoga)
Another famous Korean alcoholic beverage is Makgeolli, which is a traditional Korean rice wine. It is also a great gift that can only be bought from Korea! The taste of Makgeolli is very soft and especially popular among women. If you're interested in exploring more about Makgeolli in Korea, check out this special tour!
Tour Mate | Hongdae Makgeolli Tour
Coffee
It's no secret that Koreans love coffee. You can find all kinds of instant coffee brands at the mart or convenience store!
KANU is one of the most popular instant coffee brands in Korea, and is known for selling more than 10 billion mixed coffee sticks every year! This coffee mix is famous for having a rich coffee aroma and taste despite being an instant coffee.
Gong Yoo, who starred in the famous Korean drama Goblin, has been a model for KANU for years! You'll see him all over their ads and coffee products.
Korean Citron Tea (Yuja)
Korean citron tea is made with honey and Korean citrons. This tea is delicious! Even if you buy a small and medium-sized bottle, you can use it to make tea for a long time. It's the perfect gift for those who love honey and lemon tea!
Citron tea is a great gift, but it weighs a lot. If you want to reduce your luggage weight, I'd recommend you to buy tea bags. You can buy tea in many different flavors!
8. Korean Socks
Another candidate for the perfect souvenir are socks! Wherever you buy socks from Korea, you will be surprised by the variety and cheap price! These socks usually cost between 1,000 KRW to 3,000 KRW.
If you have cold hands and feet, we strongly recommend you to buy fuzzy sleeping socks! They are usually around 2,000-3,000 KRW per pair, and like regular socks, they come in various colors and patterns.
9. Korean Traditional Souvenirs
There are many tourists who would still prefer traditional souvenirs. Bookmarks, postcards, and stickers with Korean traditional patterns and designs can make great souvenirs!
You can get these types of souvenirs from museums, souvenir shops, and shopping malls (Daiso and ArtBox are great for buying souvenirs). You will be surprised by the variety of different souvenirs!
The Korean traditional markets (Gwangjang Market, Namdaemun Market, and Insadong) are great shopping venues where you can get these traditional souvenirs. When you shop at these markets, I would recommend you to compare prices before making the purchase. The stores usually have overlapping items and sell them at different prices.
10. K-Pop Goods
If you have friends and family members who are hardcore K-pop stans, there is no other gift better than K-pop goods! There is a huge variety and it's much cheaper to get them in Korea.
The best and most popular place to find K-pop goods and albums would probably be Myeongdong!
In addition to collectible CDs, pins, and posters, you can find cute character goods such as BT21 at any LINE Friends store!
11. Starbucks Goods
Starbucks is not a Korean brand, but Starbucks enthusiasts will definitely be interested in the limited Korean Starbucks goods that can only be purchased in Korea!
Starbucks is one of the most beloved coffee franchises in Korea, so you can easily find stores anywhere. You can purchase unique limited items exclusive to Korea, such as tumblers with Korean letters, mugs with Seoul landscape illustrations, and Starbucks cards!
Unique Starbucks Locations in Korea
12. Korean Postcards
Next, we recommend Korean postcards! There are many stationery shops like Kyobo or Artbox that have a variety of pretty designs.
Seoul Metropolitan Library, one of the best South Korea's sightseeing spots, sells many exquisite Korean souvenirs. In addition to buying handmade cards and postcards, you can also find pretty bookmarks.
We recommend this "Hanbok Postcard" series. These postcards are delicate and perfectly represent the aesthetic of traditional Korea!
You can find lots of traditional souvenirs in Insadong! We recommend a shop called Woorimi, which sells 100% handmade souvenirs. Download the Creatrip coupon for 10% off!
13. Stationery
If you get souvenirs at Korean stationery store, you can choose souvenirs that can impress your friends at a relatively low price.
Washi tape, pens, laptop pouches, etc. are decorated with adorable pictures, so you can't fail if you give stationery to people that like these items!
If you are not familiar with your friends' tastes, why don't you buy illustration design products produced by Korean designers? Check out our blog below for stationery store recommendations!
3 Stationery Stores in Hongdae
14. Kakao Friends
One of the most beloved characters in Korea are the characters from Kakao Friends. If you like cute things, you should visit the Kakao Friends Store!
Kakao Friends characters, which were released as emoticons available in the KakaoTalk chat app, can be purchased as dolls, household goods, and home appliances thanks to their huge popularity.
Aren't they just so cute? They're not only cute, but also very useful as they have released various products such as socks, mouse pads, humidifiers, toasters, cushions, and bags. There are official stores in major tourist areas in Seoul such as Hongdae, Gangnam, Dongdaemun, Myeong-dong, Jamsil, COEX, and Yeongdeungpo, so you can easily visit while traveling to Seoul.
15. Phone Accessories
Young Koreans use iPhones and AirPods a lot, so you can see many pretty and cute accessories that Apple product users can use. You can easily find products with unique designs in various road shops on the street!
Korean AirPods cases are really cute and inexpensive, and there are many styles you can't see anywhere else. If you use Apple products, find your own unique case when you come to Korea! It is a great souvenir that can be gifted to family and friends.
Of course, you can easily purchase accessories for Samsung productsin addition to Apple products. Samsung Galaxy phone cases and Galaxy Buds cases are also being released with various character and illustration designs, so look out for them when you visit Korean road shops! Click the link below to see where to find phone cases.
16. Summer Items
Summer in Korea can be pretty brutal, so if you visit during the summer, you'll find lots of useful items to keep you cool in the summer. You can use it during your trip and keep it for future use or as a gift to friends and family!
One of the most popular summer items is a mini portable electric fan. It is must-have for summer trips because it gets so humid and hot in Korea!
Must-Do Activities in Korea
We hope this blog helps you find the best souvenirs during your trip in Korea! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com. You can follow us and see video content about our services on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!