Memorable Korea: 7 Best Souvenirs to Bring Home

Korea travel is always fascinating to expect, no matter what kinds of reasons to attract you to visit. K-pop, historical architectures, magnificent landscape, or even Korean mouth-watering delicacies can all serve as the spirits of your journey in Korea. However, when it comes to what makes you remember a trip, travelers wouldn’t forget to take some souvenirs home. Today, MyProGuide is going to share our recommendation of what you should buy in Korea.

1. Beauty products

As generally known, Koreans highly emphasize aesthetics and adorable appearance; namely, the cosmetic industry is still on the rise because of both domestic and international demand. Shops offer foreign visitors a wide range of facial masks, skin care products, lotions, BB cream, CC cream and more, including plenty of products for men. Moreover, the package design of some products is just so fancy that it is tough for customers to reject. They are quite suitable to give friends as souvenirs as well. 

2. Kimchi

Have you ever been aware of the variety of kimchi that you tasted before? Many foreigners, even for those who go on Korea travel for several times, could only recognize the most common kind-Baechu kimchi(배추 김치). Well, yes, Baechu kimchi is one of them; in fact, Korea boasts more than 180 kinds of kimchis, which are absolutely their national icons that Korean have to eat as a daily meal. So if you think you’ll miss kimchi back home, pick up a package to spice up your dinners. Two tips: kimchi counts as a liquid/gel at airport security, so it must go in your checked luggage in a well-sealed, vacuum-packed pack (many shops at the airport and in Myeongdong sell travel-ready packs), and check your own country’s customs rules on bringing in food before you buy.

3. Korean paper(Hanji 한지)

Hanji is traditional Korean paper, handmade from the inner bark of the mulberry tree. It is strong, soft and long-lasting, and is used for calligraphy, lanterns, boxes, fans and even traditional doors and windows. In Insadong and Jeonju you’ll find hanji notebooks, cards, lamps and calligraphy pieces, light and easy to pack, and lovely to hang on the wall at home.

4. Korean Ginseng

Korea is also famous for ginseng, which is valued in traditional medicine and as a health food, and is also cooked into dishes. For example, Ginseng chicken soup(Samgyetang 삼계탕)is considered a Korean local food featuring delicious ingredients and tastes combining Jujube, ginger slices, and other herbs with chicken and ginseng. And it helps refill the energy and reduce exhaustion according to traditional medicine. Now you can find ready-to-heat packs of ginseng chicken soup and ginseng teas from many brands in souvenir stores and supermarkets (again, check your home country’s food import rules).

5. Korean dried seaweed

As seen in Korean dramas or films, dried seaweed is a type of essential ingredients in Korean local cuisine. Korean people would rip a piece of dried seaweed and use it to cover the rice. It can be savored with kimchi and hot soup. Korean grandmas are also fond of making kimbap, Korean-style riceball, with dried seaweed. 

6. Korean Yuja tea

Yuja(유자), a fruit resembling citron, is often utilized in Korean drink or cuisine. It tastes sweet and a little bit bitter. It's recommended to make good use of Korean Yuja tea to help ease your thirst. In the summertime, when caught with boiling heat, you can put a teaspoon of citron tea paste, adding some water, and this cup of tea refreshes your mind.

7. Korean traditional clothing(Hanbok 한복)

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Koreans are proud of their long history and traditional culture, and a hanbok, or a small hanbok-themed item, makes a meaningful reminder of your journey. Even if you don’t buy one, you can rent a hanbok for a few hours; visitors wearing hanbok get free entry to the main royal palaces in Seoul. On the streets near Seoul’s palaces, you’ll see many people in traditional dress passing by, like a scene from a historical drama.

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