A visit to South Korea promises a lot of positive emotions and impressions. A country with a rich history, culture and interesting customs will not leave indifferent even experienced travelers. In order to preserve pleasant memories for a long time and to please relatives and friends with gifts, tourists often face the question of what to bring from South Korea as a souvenir.
Cosmetics
South Korean cosmetics is famous for its quality around the world. At least once, having been in this country, you can see how local products are popular here. Almost everywhere there are large shopping centers and small shops selling cosmetics.
What is even more pleasant, it is quite accessible to each buyer. The consultant will offer several options for skin care products or good decorative cosmetics of local production, which will be an excellent gift from South Korea.
Ramen and kimchi
Ramen is instant noodles that can be purchased in our country. However, in the Korean version, it is much tastier. Depending on the type of noodles, it can be brewed with boiling water or boiled. By the way, in most local institutions this is one of the most popular dishes. Cooks cook ramen with the addition of mushrooms, green onions, eggs and other ingredients. Any store offers a huge assortment of noodles with a wide variety of tastes.
Kimchi is a traditional spicy Chinese cabbage appetizer in chili paste and spices. This dish is so appreciated by the locals that it is always served at the table. According to some reports, in South Korea there are up to 200 varieties of this snack, differing in the method of preparation and the incoming ingredients. If the question arises as to what gourmet friends to bring from South Korea, this gift is best.
Sweets
National sweets in this country are most often made from unusual for us rice flour and red beans. It is worth noting that their taste is rather unusual and not everyone will like it, but their bright and beautiful look will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.
Sweets made in this way are an integral part of any celebration. In ancient times, their manufacture was considered a holiday, which gathered the whole village. The thing is that the process required a lot of effort and hard work. The dough for products was beaten with massive wooden hammers, achieving the desired consistency and elasticity. Modern equipment facilitates production, while sweets continue to be in great demand among local residents and tourists. Hotels from South Korea brought for the sweet tooth will be the best gift.
Tea
When visiting this country, it is impossible not to try one of the varieties of local tea. The most popular here is a green drink with herbal supplements.
One of the most exquisite varieties is considered chaksolchha tea. It is produced from young tea leaves collected in early spring. In addition to traditional tea, you should pay attention to the original varieties made from rice or corn grits, barley grains or a mixture of citrus fruits. They have a pleasant taste and many useful qualities. Such a gift will be the best answer to the question of what to bring from South Korea.
Jewelry
Gold and silver products of local craftsmen are not inferior in quality to European precious products. As an added bonus - they have a much lower cost. They also differ in originality and are most often performed in an oriental style. It is worth noting that gold is mostly yellow.
An unusually wide range of onyx and jade jewelry . They are used to make beautiful pendants, bracelets, earrings, key chains, and carvings of animals and birds. If you do not know what souvenirs you can bring from South Korea, then buy local jewelry made of precious stones and metals. They are great as a gift.
Face masks
Among all cosmetic products, special attention should be paid to face masks. They are inexpensive and truly make your skin relaxed and radiant. As a rule, these products are a paper, gel or fabric sheet, saturated with natural ingredients that improve the condition of the skin. The mask can be purchased individually or in a package of 5-10 pieces.
Seaweed
In South Korea, seaweed is in great demand, the locals call them jim. In type, they resemble Japanese nori. These are dried pressed marine plants in the form of thin layers of different sizes. They are wrapped around rice, seasoned with sesame oil or soy, and sometimes eaten straight from the pack. The benefits of such a product cannot be underestimated. You can buy jim at any supermarket or grocery store.
Ginseng
This is another very useful product that can be brought from Korea. You can talk about its health benefits for hours. One of the main advantages of ginseng is the strengthening of the immunity of adults and children.
Root in local markets and stores is sold in dried and granular form as an extract and powder. It is better to purchase it in large shopping centers in sealed packaging. So you can be sure that the product will be of the highest quality and without impurities and additives.
In small souvenir shops, ginseng root is sold in glass vials as an infusion. Such a souvenir from South Korea not only has healing properties, but also looks quite unusual, resembling a magic potion. Connoisseurs of this plant should definitely buy ginseng tea, sweets or cosmetics based on its extract.
Crafts of local craftsmen
As in any other country in the world, in Korea you can buy a lot of beautiful and useful souvenirs. First of all, it is worth highlighting handmade dolls in national clothes, painted pottery, drums, textiles, wooden caskets and masks in the national style, ducks, which are considered a symbol of marital happiness.
Such souvenirs from South Korea are also popular with tourists (photo is presented in the article):
- Ethnic style masks are called by the locals Hahwa. They are made of bright colorful materials and wood. Such a gift will surely please people who are interested in the culture and art of different countries. Also, the product will become an original decoration of the interior.
- Caskets. Wooden caskets made by local craftsmen deserve rave praise. Each item is unique, made and hand-painted. This can be a lacquered, mother of pearl or stone inlaid box. The price range of products is very wide and depends on the material and decor.
- Textile. Speaking of textiles, usually refers to any products made of fabric: bedding, towels, clothes, socks, cosmetic bags and much more. They can be sewn from silk, cambric. When choosing what to give from South Korea from textiles, it is better to dwell on products from natural silk of excellent quality or cotton.
- Ceramics. In this country, ceramic and porcelain dishes are very much appreciated. In souvenir shops you can always buy small jugs, bowls, glasses and other clay products. To buy a larger and more unique product, it is better to visit one of the ceramics specialty stores. You need to be prepared to spend a considerable amount for such a souvenir.
The work of artists
A visit to the Hongdae Free Market will definitely help you decide what to bring from Seoul (South Korea) for connoisseurs of paintings and art. Here are the works of the most talented artists of South Korea, the works of some of them are very popular and exhibited outside the country.
In addition, other interesting handmade gizmos are sold here. Among them you can find wood cutting products, painted jewelry and jewelry, watercolor sketches. Their purchase supports young talents and makes it possible to personally communicate with the master, as well as hear the story of how he was inspired and created his creation.
During the days of the Hongdae market, artists perform. There are also cafes and restaurants, master classes are held. Once here, a person can even make a souvenir with his own hands.
Hanji from paper
Hanji - the so-called traditional Korean paper, made manually from mulberry bark. It is highly durable and is used for the manufacture of lampshades, wallpaper, stationery, fan blades and so on. Every major city in Korea has stores offering items made from Hanji. In addition to the fact that here you can buy a thing from such paper, the craftsmen will even help you make something with your own hands. As you know, a gift made independently carries a piece of soul.
Selection Tips: What to bring to a child, man, woman
Those who can not decide what to bring from South Korea as a souvenir, you can consider the following recommendations:
- In Korea, goods for children have high quality standards, which is why you can safely buy clothes, shoes and toys for a child here. However, they are not cheap at all. If there is no way to spend a lot on a gift, you can buy an accessory in the form of funny socks or a bright hat. In addition, there is a huge selection of children's sweets in the form of cartoon characters.
- Any modern man will be grateful for the electronic gadget brought from Korea. Since technological progress in the country is leaps and bounds, the choice of such new products is simply huge. At a reasonable price, you can purchase a device in accordance with the preferences of men. It is worth noting that sports goods are also notable for their low cost.
- Depending on the age of the woman, a gift is also acquired. This can be bedspreads or bedding, jewelry made of natural stones, lace scarves, interior figurines or a vase, decorative cosmetics.
In conclusion, it can be noted that throughout the country there are many free trade stores. When making purchases in them, it is necessary to keep checks. Due to this, it is possible to return part of the money in cash or to a bank card, at the airport, by filling out the application at the appropriate counter before departure.