Where to buy souvenirs in Seoul?

- South Korea -

South Korea is famous for its incredible variety of souvenirs, fun trinkets, cosmetics, and, of course, K-pop culture. The souvenirs here are genuinely cool things you’ll actually want to gift or keep for yourself. Here are five places you definitely won't leave empty-handed (and most likely, with an empty wallet).

1. Line Friends

The KakaoTalk messenger is incredibly popular in Korea —basically, all of life happens there. In this regard, it's a lot like China's WeChat. Both of these messengers (Kakao and the Japanese Line) have their own mascots that have transcended the screens and become an entirely separate industry. The flagship stores of these brands (especially in the Hongdae or Myeongdong neighborhoods) span several floors filled with cute plush figures. What should you bring back from here? Keychains, phone cases, soft toys, thermoses, and stationery. It’s not cheap compared to other stores, but the quality is excellent, and most importantly, the design is totally unique.

2. Olive Young

Everyone who has ever heard the phrase "Korean skincare" knows about this retail chain. It's like Sephora, only about half the price, and they are literally on every corner here. Don't try to buy the whole store. Keep an eye out for the yellow price tags with a "1+1" sign (buy one, get one free). Personally, I would grab sheet masks, famous Korean sunscreens, and pimple patches —these are an absolute must-have that everyone will find useful.

3. Daiso

The Korean equivalent of a dollar store. Seoul has multi-story Daiso department stores (like the 12-story giant in Myeongdong). You should come here for two things. First, for the excellent notebooks, stickers, and pens. Second, they always have displays featuring traditional Korean motifs: postcards, bookmarks, metal chopsticks, and bowls for soju and makgeolli. It costs next to nothing (usually from 1,000 to 5,000 won) but looks beautiful. You definitely won't go broke at Daiso.

4. HBAF Almond Store

You'd think, it's just almonds, what's so special about that? But Koreans managed to turn ordinary nuts into a massive trend and a successful business. The flagship HBAF store in Myeongdong is pure, I'm not afraid to say it, madness. They sell almonds in dozens of the most unexpected flavors. The classic is Honey Butter. But if you're craving something unusual, go for the wasabi, spicy sausage, garlic bread, mint chocolate, or matcha flavors.

5. Lotte Mart (Seoul Station)

South Korea is known for its endless variety of snacks and sweets. To find them, you need to head to the giant Lotte Mart supermarket at Seoul Station. Set aside at least an hour and grab the biggest shopping cart. What to toss inside: ramen (there's such a huge variety here — pick whatever catches your eye), Choco Pies (they have fig, matcha, or raspberry flavors), soju, and gochujang paste. A nice bonus: you can process your Tax Free refund right at the checkout and pack your freshly bought goods into cardboard boxes with handles for free on the spot.

Seoul is undoubtedly a dangerous city for all shopaholics. If you still have empty space in your suitcase, it just means you haven't made it to the nearest Olive Young or Lotte Mart yet. Just like with Japan, it's best to travel here with an empty suitcase!

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Where to buy souvenirs in Japan?