Things to Buy in Seoul to Take Home

Buying souvenirs for yourself or gifts for friends and family back home is always an enjoyable part of the travel experience. For those who are looking for authentic Korean souvenirs that are not in your country or things to buy in Seoul, consider this your guide.

Check out the list below to see which keepsake souvenirs and gifts you should buy before leaving Seoul!

1. Electric Rice Cooker

An electric thermal rice cooker from “CUCKOO” is what every Korean housewife has on their wish list. Made by a top Korean household appliances brand, this magical thing has a voice function and it can make not only rice but also stews! It is pricey but absolutely worth to buy and take it home.

If you want to get this high-tech rice cooker, drop by the Lotte Mart that is directly connected to Seoul Station before you make a transfer to Incheon International Airport.

2. Ramyeon (Instant Noodles)

“Ramyeon” is one of the best things to buy in Seoul! Koreans love these instant noodles called ‘ramyeon’, after rice. They come in various kinds and tastes and they are extremely convenient because it takes less than 5 minutes to cook them. They also come in a cup-type but we recommended you buying a pack or a 5-in-1 pack since cup noodles take a lot of space in your carrier.

As ramyeon is so popular with Koreans and tourists, the companies keep launching out different flavors. Among all the new products, the really spicy hot chicken ramyeon is the most famous one. Koreans love to have it when they’re stressed out. If you’re not that good at eating spicy food, try the carbonara flavor in a pink package which is less spicy.

3. Soju & Makgeolli (Korean Alcoholic Drinks)

One of the things many foreign visitors in Korea bring back home is, of course, Korean alcoholic drinks. “Soju and Makgeolli (Korean rice wine)” are relatively cheaper than those outside the country. So try to fit one of these bottles into your carrier no matter what! Recently, soju companies have launched sojus in fruit flavors, such as grapefruit, peach, and plum, and more! These fruit sojus are more popular these days because they are less bitter.

Makgeolli is a Korean traditional rice wine that is less strong than Soju. This drink goes well with many Korean traditional foods, such as Jeon (Korean traditional pancake or pizza) and Tofu Kimchi. If you want to make your own Makgeolli or learn about Korean food & drink culture, check out the below activities below!

4. Gim (Dried Seaweed)

“Gim”, or a paper-like dried seaweed with a bit of salt sprinkled and spread with sesame oil, is full of calcium, vitamins, and carotenes. Inexpensive and with relatively little weight, many foreign visitors love to take the delicious dried seaweed home!

5. Korean Beauty Products

Korea’s BB Creams, cushions, facial packs, and sheet masks are some of the most beloved beauty products that gaining worldwide popularity. You can find them at drugstores like Olive Young, Lalavla, and beauty brand stores such as Innisfree, Etude House, Missha, all of which are clustered in Myeongdong district.

You can also order K-beauty products through Trazy Proxy Shopping! Trending cosmetics are KAHI, which Kim Go Eun used in K-drama ‘The King: The Eternal Monarch’, and Manyo Factory, which Son Ye Jin used in ‘Crash Landing on You’.

If you are a fan of BTS, check out BT21 X TN (True Nature) collaborated skincare products! Also, don’t forget to get Too cool for School bestseller beauty products, Artclass by Rodin Collection and Egg Collection.