What to buy in Seoul - 25 best Korean souvenirs

Last Updated on August 7, 2024 by Alex

Are you traveling to South Korea’s capital for the first time and want to make a list of what to buy in Seoul ahead of time? Planning every trip detail will allow you to make the best of your time, including shopping for the best Korean souvenirs.

When I visited Seoul for the first time, I went for a short 3-day trip and spent a lot of time in Myoeng-dong, mesmerized by all the shopping options.

If you don’t have too much time and want to see many of Seoul’s fantastic attractions, list all the things you want to buy and bring back home.

Here is a comprehensive guide we hope will help you!

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What to buy in Seoul: the best Korean souvenirs

Cosmetics – K-beauty

K-beauty is the perfect blend of traditional Korean culture and modern beauty rituals.

It combines skincare, makeup, and cosmetics into a unique regimen emphasizing hydration, nutrition, and protection. K-beauty is about pampering yourself with natural ingredients like aloe vera, green tea extract, and snail mucin.

From cleansers and essences to serums and sheet masks, they design K-beauty products to give you glowing results without harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances.

Offering Korean cosmetics as a souvenir is definitely not a bad idea, but it might be challenging to choose the right products.

For cosmetics lovers and not only, we have created this comprehensive guide for where to buy skincare in Seoul. It is packed with helpful information, including brands and products you should not miss out on, including where to find them.

Local art from Insa-dong

While strolling the streets of Insadong, you will find plenty of art galleries to visit and local shops where you can buy local art.

Whether you’re looking for traditional Korean art, such as calligraphy, paintings, pottery, or hanbok (a traditional Korean costume), Insadong has it all.

You can find more modern artwork in photographs, sculptures, and even jewelry. With its perfect location in the city’s heart, there are plenty of other things to buy in Insadong, but Korean art is the main thing.

Kimchi

It is a traditional Korean dish that has been around for centuries. It is made with fermented vegetables, usually cabbage, and flavored with spicy seasonings like garlic and red chili pepper.

Kimchi can be served as a side dish or in soups, stews, or even fried rice. It is full of probiotics and other health benefits, making it an excellent addition to any meal, and all Koreans love it.

To many, the smell can be off-putting, especially in the beginning. However, as you start trying different types of kimchi, you will end up loving it, just as we did.

Koreans keep kimchi in special ceramic containers, often outside, and I remember when I visited in winter, I could smell it almost everywhere. After moving there, and once we were introduced to the art of Korean barbecue, we ended up loving kimchi.

You can buy small sealed plastic bags with kimchi and transport them safely in your luggage. Look for the ones for children since a certain type comes mixed with apples and has a fresh flavor while not being too hot and spicy.

Bibigo is, in our view, the best kimchi brand, followed by Jongga.

Korean snacks from the convenience store

While I am not a huge fan of Korean snacks, they are extremely popular with foreigners and those who travel to South Korea.

Don’t get me wrong, Korean snacks are great, but they are usually sweet, and we are used to snacking on salty stuff.

Visit any convenience store, and you will be impressed by the wide variety of snacks available. Many love the chocolate-covered sticks, while the Gilim honey butter peanuts are a must-try!

Once you are home, you can always choose a subscription box that will send you all your favorite snacks directly home from South Korea.

Korean Red Ginseng

Maybe the most popular gift Koreans make is red ginseng, which has plenty of beneficial properties and is something they are proud of.

When we moved from Korea, we received it in various forms, from capsules to powder to tea extract or cosmetics, and everything in between.

It is an ancient root used in traditional medicine for centuries. It’s known to have various health benefits, from boosting your immune system to reducing stress and fatigue. It also helps improve memory and concentration levels.

Thus, red ginseng is a great souvenir to bring back home from South Korea.

Crispy seaweed

Alex likes them, and Ingrid hates them. Thus, there is always a bag in the house. Koreans love seaweed, and it goes well with various traditional dishes.

It is easy to carry in the luggage and is a great authentic gift. You can find them at supermarkets like Emart, Lotte Mart, Homeplus, and some larger convenience stores.

Korean tea (Osulloc Tea)

Before visiting Boseong, we had no idea that tea grows in South Korea. However, it does, especially the one from Jeju Island, which is very popular with locals and tourists alike.

Osulloc is a popular brand that sells beautifully wrapped local, high-quality tea. They offer beautiful gift sets as well as premium blended teas or matcha.

You can find it online (on GMarket or Coupang) or buy it directly from one of their beautiful stores in Insadong or at their Tea House in Bukchon.

Also, the Amore Pacific flagship store in Seongsu has a tea house on the last level, where you can buy Osulloc tea.

Moreover, if you are from the US and don’t want to carry it back home, try it in Korea and order it directly on Amazon here.

Sweet Korean instant tea

It comes in a jar; you can prepare it quickly and easily with cold or hot water. I used to drink it back in Hong Kong and loved it.

You can choose from various flavors, with ginger & yuzu or the Jeju hallabong orange as the most popular ones.

Rice Cakes (Tteok)

You can taste rice cakes in traditional Korean dishes, especially in Tteokbokki. They usually stir-fry them in a spicy sauce.

Rice cakes are gummy and don’t really have a specific taste, but they are very traditional and loved by Koreans. Thus, they make for a great gift to bring back home from South Korea.

Packed Hotteok

Hotteok is a popular Korean street food snack. It’s made from a sweet dough filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. The dough is then flattened into thin circles and cooked in a hot pan until golden brown on both sides.

You can also find it at supermarkets, and it makes a great gift for sweets lovers.

Soju

You cannot go to South Korea without trying soju, their traditional alcoholic drink.

This traditional Korean alcohol is made from rice, wheat, and other grains. It is clear in color and usually tastes slightly sweet or fruity. Soju typically has an alcohol content of around 16-20% and can be enjoyed as a shot, mixed with beer (a popular combination called soju-bok), or used to create various cocktails.

You cannot traditionally have a Korean BBQ without at least one bottle of soju. It is not so strong, so don’t worry about getting drunk.

Because it is a popular drink and represents a part of Korean culture, we always bring a few bottles back home for friends and family.

In Korea, a bottle is very affordable, and you can buy it from any convenience store.

Makgeolli

Since we are talking about alcohol, makgeolli is another great souvenir option.

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine. It is milky white in color and slightly sweet with a tart, tangy flavor. You can have it cold or warm, and it usually has an alcohol content of around 6-8%.

Ingrid loved it, but some might find it hard to digest since it is a bit fermented and frizzy.

Again, you can buy it from local convenience stores or supermarkets.

Instant drinks – traditional Korean teas or other types of drinks

Ingrid loves these and makes sure she always has some at home. They go well in every season, but especially during cold days.

In Korea, you would normally get one of these in certain restaurants at the end of the meal or as a dessert. Some have cinnamon (Sujeonggwa) or ginger, which makes them a great drink for digestion and your stomach.

We also loved the barley tea we would get at one of the very local restaurants we used to go to for ginseng soup. The good news is you can find that as well in instant form. Just pour hot water on top and enjoy!

Cute stationary items from Art Box

I must admit that when I found this cute shop in Hongdae, I spent hours exploring and looking at all the fun things they sell.

I was looking for gifts to bring home to our pre-teenager niece, and I surely found some things we enjoyed.

From funny wrist cushions to poop pencils, you will find something to buy from here. I strongly doubt that you can go out without something.

Another great option is to go to Daiso – they are easy to find, and there’s a huge one in Hongdae, steps away from the subway station.

Ramyeon

Ramyeon is a popular Korean instant noodle dish. It’s made with wheat flour noodles and can be served hot or cold. It usually comes with a packet of seasoning that adds flavor and spice to the dish.

You can find plenty of options at convenience stores, whether you like spicy food or less.

Soju glasses

As you’ve seen in the picture above, you drink soju from some very specific glasses.

They look like the shoot glasses we use for tequila, and you can find them with various cute cartoons (such as the Kakao Friends characters) or even K-pop stars.

K-Pop Merchandise

As we are not K-pop fans, we knew little about popular groups before moving to South Korea. Of course, everyone has heard of BTS, but the K-pop movement is huge in South Korea.

If you have a favorite group or you want to bring home great K-pop souvenirs, head to Myeongdong (at the Underground Shopping Center or at Music Korea), Gangnam (at the Tourist Information Center or COEX Mall), or Hongdae.

You can buy music albums, t-shirts, posters, cards, hoodies, and much more.

Hanbok – traditional Korean clothes

A hanbok is a traditional Korean style of clothing that dates back centuries. It is characterized by long, flowing skirts and jackets with intricate designs and bright colors.

Koreans wear them for special occasions like weddings or holidays.

During your trip, you must rent hanboks and make memories around some of the city’s most beautiful parts (for example, the Palaces). You can also buy some beautiful traditional clothes to take home.

Hanboks can be quite expensive, depending on the style and quality, but around Insadong or Bukchon Hanok, you can find something for every pocket.

Prints of traditional folk paintings in Insadong

Just look around Insadong, and you will find countless beautiful paintings, some even for you to color.

Korean fashion

Korean fashion has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Unique silhouettes and pastel colors characterize it.

Korean fashion often combines traditional elements with modern trends, creating an effortless look that you can see on both the runway and the streets.

You can shop for all kinds of hip items in Myeongdong, Gangnam at the Express Bus Terminal Shopping Mall, or at local stores such as SPAO or Gentle Monster (eyewear is cheaper in Korea than internationally).

Customized perfume or jewelry

You can discover various local perfume brands in South Korea. My favorite one is Soul Seasons (you can find it at Chicor).

However, you can also participate in a workshop to learn about perfume and create your own fragrance.

You can also create custom-made jewelry with Korean symbols at a workshop in Seoul.

Dried Seafood

Korean dried seafood is a unique and popular way to enjoy fish and shellfish.

Dried seafood is usually lightly salted and sun-dried; people consume it as snacks or in local cuisine.

It is often served as an accompaniment to drinks like soju or makgeolli, but you can also eat it on its own. As a result, it is a great souvenir from Korea.

Beef jerky

Beef jerky is a popular snack in Korea that is made from beef. It’s usually prepared by marinating the meat in soy sauce and other seasonings to give it a unique flavor.

It has a chewy texture and can be enjoyed as an appetizer or side dish.

You can buy it from any convenience store or supermarket.

Korean makeup

Just like K-beauty, Korean make-up has become very popular around the world. That’s mainly because of its great qualities and affordable price.

K-beauty usually comes in very natural pale shades, it is very resistent, and creates an almost “no makeup” look.

Myeongdong is where to look for skincare and makeup, with Olive Young or Chicor as your go-to places.

Spam gift sets

This is a funny option, but you will find these all over the place, and they are truly Korean!

What to buy in Seoul – 25 best Korean souvenirs

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