The Best Korean Souvenirs: Traditional & Modern Gifts

If you're like me, you probably spend too much time thinking about what gifts to buy for your family and friends back home. Having lived in Korea for a couple of years now, I still find myself wondering what to buy each time I visit home. In this post, I explore some traditional and modern gifts that might be fun for you to buy. (Secretly, I'm just building a cheat sheet for myself to use on future trips!)

Hanbok, Korea’s traditional clothing, is obviously not a souvenir you want to bring home. It’s very big and expensive, and there are very few people that want to wear it outside of Korea. It does look beautiful and it’s arguably the most noteworthy traditional Korean item. A miniature version makes for a great gift. For bookworms, like me, there are even Hanbok bookmarks.

Best place to find: Insa-dong, Seoul

A Bojagi is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth. Bojagi is used to cover food, carry or store items, or wrap gifts. Bojagi are not as iconic as Hanboks are, but they are really beautiful. They come in a variety of structures, materials, patterns, and colors, each with its own symbolism. Unlike a miniature Hanbok, Bojagi is both beautiful and useful.

Best place to find: Gallery Korea Bojagi Art, Hanbokmaeul

If you know someone who loves crafts then the Tal is a great gift. These wooden masks are used in Korean folk dances and dramas. Each mask is designed to represent different characters with various emotions. Traditionally the masks were only used once and then burned, so you won’t find any old masks.

Best place to find: Insa-dong, Seoul

Ginseng root is popular for its potential health benefits, such as increasing energy, sharpening cognitive function, and reducing inflammation. There is a slight possibility of side effects from a list of equal length. It tastes bitter and a little bit sweet. You have to get used to the taste.

Best place to find: Everywhere

Koreans make tea with anything they can find it seems. There are a variety of Leaf teas, Flower teas, Fruit teas, Grain teas, and Root teas (Ginseng for example). Trying these teas at a tea house is a must, but they also make great gifts to bring back home. Daechu-cha, made from red dates, is a personal favorite, while green tea is the most well-known.

Best place to find: Beautiful Tea Museum, Seoul

The best place to find Green Tea: Osulloc Tea Museum, Jeju. They have stores in some big cities too.

Korean beauty products, also known as K-beauty products, are renowned worldwide for their quality and variety. From sheet masks, skincare sets, and cosmetics. Prices are often more affordable than in other countries. Depending on your budget, Olive Young is a great option for affordable items, while Shinsegae department store caters to those seeking high-end products.

Best place to find: Olive Young, Shinsegae department store

Everyone, everywhere, knows BTS. There is a huge fan base outside of Korea for different K-Pop groups. If you know someone who is a fan of one of these groups, you can not come home empty-handed. Myeongdong is the best district to go for K-Pop merchandise. You can find it in Gangnam too, but it will be way more expensive.

The best place to find albums: Buruttrak in Myeongdong, Seoul

The best place to find merchandise: Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center, Seoul

Artbox is a must-visit for those with kids in the family. They sell all kinds of cute and unique items, including socks, school supplies, phone cases, fans, earphone case covers, stuffed animals, postcards, and more.

Besides these options, there's also a wide range of travel souvenirs available. Nearly every district, especially those popular with tourists, has at least one souvenir shop filled with cool and unique items. Postcards or prints with landmarks or traditional Korean artwork. Smaller mementos like magnets depicting various aspects of Korean culture, such as traditional masks, Hangul characters, or famous attractions.

Jakwa is my all-time favorite Korean snack. It’s a chewy snack made of wheat flour, honey, and various nuts and seeds. It’s sweet and has a nutty flavor. It’s usually served during special occasions and holidays. Except for handmade Jakwa, they’re usually sold in a box, packed individually. Perfect to bring as a gift.

Best place to find: I haven’t found the best place as of yet. But you can find it at certain bakeries. Keep an eye out for them when you’re buying bread or desserts.

Tteok, Korean Rice Cake, comes in many different shapes, colors, and flavors. If you’ve been to a Korean traditional market you have seen all the variety. While fresh Tteok from traditional markets may not stay fresh for long, Tteok-jib (떡집) often sells gift boxes with individually packed Tteok.

Best place to find: Tteok-jib (떡집)

Jeju is famous for its Hallabong. A citrus fruit right in between an orange and a tangerine. They put a lot of effort into promoting Hallabong on the island. Jeju Hallabong Chocolate is probably the most popular product made with Hallabong. They come in nice gift boxes and can be found throughout the island.

Gyeongju Bbang is a traditional Korean pastry. It’s a soft, fluffy bun filled with red bean paste. All the gift boxes I have seen in Gyeongju contain fresh, non-sealed, Gyeongju Bbang. So be careful when buying these as a gift. Individually packed Gyeongju Bbang can be found online if you want to spread the red-bean gospel.

This list should give you a solid start, but there are plenty of other unique finds out there. Ultimately, the best souvenirs are the ones you're excited to share. Happy shopping, and safe travels!