If you’ve been struggling to find the perfect souvenir to take back home from your trip to Korea, look no further. These K-culture souvenirs are something that everyone will love. In such a small gift, you can feel the essence of Korea.
1. Personalized Name Stickers: One thing Korea loves to do is label personal belongings with the cutest stickers. The upside to this is that there are machines with adorable character stickers where you can add people's names. Perfect for notebooks, pens, pencils, electronic devices, and more! You can create these by visiting Youngpoong Moongo or Daiso stores in Korea.
2. Name Stamps: Looking for something more unique and traditional that reflects Korea? Stop by Insadong and get yourself a customized document stamp. In Korea, instead of signing official documents, people usually use a stamp with their name or initials.
3. K-Pop Chocolate: If you visit Myeongdong, you'll find a big K-Pop store with a bunch of goodies and merchandise featuring your favorite bands. Along one wall, you'll see an assortment of chocolates with band images on them! Perfect for someone who loves sweets and K-Pop.
4. K-Beauty: For all the K-beauty lovers out there, one of the best souvenirs you can get is makeup or skincare products. Rather than visiting the flagship stores, make sure to do your research and head over to the pop-ups instead. Pop-ups often have more goodies and options that you might not see in their flagship stores.
5. Modernized Hanbok: Unless you’re celebrating a major Korean holiday like Chuseok, you typically won’t see people dressed in hanboks. However, many people love the design and structure of this beautiful traditional wear. If your loved ones are fans of hanboks, pick up some modernized hanbok-style clothing items. From jackets to tops to skirts, there are countless options, giving you the traditional look without making a big statement.
6. Webtoon Novels: Another great souvenir is webtoon novels. Especially for someone who loves to read physical books rather than e-books, webtoon novels in Korea are far cheaper to purchase than online. They make a perfect gift for a bookworm.
7. Albums and Magazines: Head over to Myeongdong’s underground shopping area to get all the K-pop-related goodies, from posters and albums to magazines. There’s an endless amount of merchandise to choose from. It’s the K-pop hub for all things merchandise.