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What to buy in Korea: Best things to add to your shopping list
Discover what to buy in Korea, from K-beauty products and Korean snacks to small souvenirs, design-led gifts, and local brands.
Skincare, K-beauty products, K-pop merchandise, traditional Korean snacks, and Korean socks are some of the best things to buy in Korea. This guide breaks down what’s truly worth adding to your shopping list. Plus, we’ll tell you where to buy them and how to stay connected with a travel eSIM so you can use Google Maps for addresses hassle-free! So, here’s what to buy in Korea.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
What to buy in Korea: Must-have K beauty products
Korean beauty products are now available in stores all over the world, but buying them in South Korea hits differently. You’ll be able to find products that never reach the international market, and very possibly at a lower price.
What makes K-beauty especially good as a souvenir is that most items are small, lightweight, and beautifully packaged. Here are some of the options that are uniquely Korean, hard to find abroad, or truly beloved and popular among locals.
- Mediheal and Torriden sheet masks: Truth be told, you can find these masks outside South Korea. However, there are limited-edition sets, variety packs, and bundles that can only be found locally. They are excellent, easy to pack, and not too expensive.
- Beauty of Joseon and Hanyul: This skincare brand, featuring traditional ingredients, is perfect for those searching for a distinctly Korean skincare and aesthetic. Joseon Beauty and Hanyul both use gentle formulas based on Korean beauty philosophy, and their packaging makes them great gifts.
- Innisfree (Jeju-inspired sets and minis): Innisfree is a great pick if you want to get small gifts and travel-friendly kits. Look for small or curated sets that are easy to split and share.
- Lip tints from Peripera: Peripera’s lip products are a great choice if you want something fun and cheap. They’re small, great to give as gifts, and very “K-beauty.”
- Dr. G and Round Lab (local favorites): A lot of people in Korea use these brands, but not so many outside the country. The Dokdo line from Round Lab and the sensitive-skin products from Dr.G are great gifts for anyone who wants to learn more about Korean skin care beyond the most popular brands.
What to buy in Korea: Stylish high-end local souvenirs
If you’re looking for more than just Korean snacks and want to splurge on high-quality, design-led Korean souvenirs rather than small, everyday gifts, South Korea won’t disappoint you. These are thoughtful purchases rooted in craftsmanship, heritage, and modern Korean aesthetics, often found in flagship stores, concept shops, and museum stores.
- Sulwhasoo: A heritage luxury skincare brand known for elegant sets of Korean beauty products inspired by traditional medicine. These make premium gifts that reflect Korea’s beauty philosophy at its highest level.
- Osulloc: Flagship-grade tea sets and beautifully packaged premium teas that highlight Korea’s tea culture. Ideal for gifting rather than everyday consumption.
- Bang & Olufsen (Korea exclusives): Limited or region-specific design electronics available only in Korea, combining global design with local exclusivity.
- Contemporary Korean design studios and hanji goods: Crafted paper products, home decor, and art objects made using traditional hanji techniques or modern Korean design principles.
- Museum-shop-level objects: Curated design items, books, ceramics, and accessories found in museum shops that reflect Korean art, history, and contemporary culture.
What to buy in Korea: Korean snacks, sweets, and drinks
There are some things you can only get in Korea, like their exclusive sweets, which range from earth-shaped gums to almonds with unique flavors.
Some of the exclusive Korean sweets you can buy are:
- Yakgwa: These are traditional, deep-fried Korean snacks typically made with flour, ginger, honey, and other ingredients to create a unique flavor. Golden Piece is a brand for offering a premium, travel-friendly version of yakgwa.
- Almonds: Almonds in Korea come in a huge variety of flavors, with butter, honey, and wasabi being among the most popular. These are among the most affordable items to purchase in South Korea and make excellent daily snacks.
- Gums: Korea is home to very unique gums, such as Chikyu Gummy products, which create earth-shaped items with raspberry and strawberry flavors that will turn your tongue blue!
- ORION: This brand offers sweets for all types of food lovers, from choco pies to chocolate cookies. You’ll find many options to try, as well as unique flavors on most of their products.
- Starbucks snacks: It might sound funny to add Starbucks to a list of what to buy in South Korea, but they offer exclusive snacks that you won’t find anywhere else!
- Lotte Sandwich: Seen in K-dramas and an iconic part of the sweet culture in Korea, Lotte sandwiches are a must-try for visitors. These come with all types of fillings, which is excellent for both sweet and salty snacks.
- Fritz Coffee Company: A well-known Seoul specialty coffee roaster, popular with locals. What you’d buy as a souvenir is packaged coffee beans or grounds, not a café experience.
- Ultra Eats: A premium tea brand offering packaged tea bags and blends with a strong focus on ingredients and design. Again: giftable tea, not a luxury object.
- Instant ramen: Unique Korean flavors and limited editions you won’t find abroad, perfect for food lovers who want something fun to take home.
What to buy in Korea: Local souvenirs and small gifts
When deciding what to buy in Korea, small, everyday souvenirs are often the easiest and most practical choices. Items from local brands, stationery, and Korean socks are affordable, easy to pack, and widely available across South Korea, from department stores to traditional markets.
Some of the best Korean souvenirs are:
- Stationery and small home goods (ARTBOX): Trendy notebooks, decorative items, and giftable household goods from Korean designers.
- Novelty gifts and accessories (BUTTER): Colorful desk items, cute accessories, and affordable souvenirs.
- Character merchandise (LINE Friends): Plushies, keychains, notebooks, and pop-culture gifts featuring Korean characters.
- K-pop merchandise: Light sticks, CDs, apparel, and official band goods from groups like BLACKPINK and BTS.
- Korean stationery: Cute pens, planners, stickers, notebooks, and writing sets that are widely loved and easy to pack.
- Korean postcards: Illustrated postcards featuring landmarks, traditional art, or modern Korean design — simple and inexpensive souvenirs.
- Korean socks: A very popular gift item, often sold in fun patterns and designs, cheap, lightweight, and easy to buy in bulk.
Where is the best place to buy things in Korea?
There are many places you can visit to find the best things to buy in Korea, but chances are you don’t want to spend all your trip walking around and not knowing where to go.
Your best option is to visit three spots: shopping malls, traditional street markets, and shopping districts.
Here are some ideal places for you to go on a shopping spree in Korea:
- The Hyundai Seoul: A very modern, vibrant shopping mall in the heart of Seoul. It’s Korea’s largest shopping mall, so you’ll find everything you need here, from fashion boutiques to convenience stores.
- Shinsegae Department Store: An ideal destination for discovering local, exclusive souvenirs and luxury cosmetic brands all in one place.
- Seoul Station: It’s a go-to place for those visiting Seoul, and it’s home to a huge variety of shops.
- Namdaemun Market: A perfect traditional market to buy unique Korean products at affordable prices.
- Insadong: The go-to spot for those looking to visit Korean cafes while exploring local art.
- Myengdong: Looking for Korea’s latest trends? This is your must-visit spot for all the trendy items you need.
- Garosugil: Easily one of the best areas for those looking for stylish, fashionable, trendy clothing in luxury boutiques and high-end stores.
Explore Korea and find the perfect souvenirs with Holafly
When visiting Korea, you have to think outside the box to get your ideal souvenirs, like, “Will your phone work in Korea?” It’s essential to use Google Maps and move around!
Your best option is to use an eSIM for South Korea from Holafly, as you’ll get unlimited mobile data to use for finding addresses, translating unfamiliar items, or checking your bank account before shopping for another souvenir.
This eSIM also provides access to up to 500 MB of daily hotspot data, 24/7 customer support, and 5G data speeds. You can choose the exact number of days you plan to use it, and the longer you stay, the more affordable it becomes, costing as little as $1.55 per day.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
Frequently asked questions about Korean souvenirs
The best places to buy things in Korea include popular shopping areas, malls, and markets, such as Myeongdong, Seoul Station, Insadong, and Lotte World Mall, among others.
Korea has a wide variety of famous products. Some of the most popular ones are Korean seaweed, herbal tea, Injeolmi, or Makgeolli.
Plans that may interest you
I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
