Korean Specialties

Korea is a shopping paradise full of fun. In addition to the dazzling array of world-famous products, Korean open-air markets are also very interesting, making South Korea the most interesting shopping country in the world. Korean antiques, handicrafts, ready-to-wear, sneakers, furs, etc. are all very popular.

Leather products

The leather products produced in South Korea are excellent in terms of raw materials and manufacturing technology. The clothing culture formed by Koreans' exquisite craftsmanship and the climate with distinct four seasons has developed a variety of products not only in clothing but also in decorative items. Therefore, in addition to jackets, skirts, and coats, a wide range of leather products produced in Korea, from wallets and belts to handbags and travel bags, are very popular among tourists. Especially eel leather products are the most famous. Leather products with novel designs, various colors, high-quality colors and low prices have become one of the must-have shopping items for tourists.

Purchasing places: Minghuo Company, Itaewon, Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market.

Korean ginseng

"Korean ginseng" is undoubtedly synonymous with "ginseng". There is also a record in a famous medical book from the Liang Dynasty of China that “the best ginseng is produced in Korea.” Korean ginseng, recognized as a mysterious medicine that boosts vitality, has the highest health and medical effects in the world. Ginseng is divided into three types: water ginseng, dry ginseng, and red ginseng, and their prices vary widely. In addition to using the roots directly, we also provide a variety of products such as ginseng essence and powder products for the convenience of customers. Ginseng can be purchased at airports, duty-free shops, department stores, etc. If you can visit the Jingdong medicinal materials market, you can buy high-quality and low-priced ginseng.

Purchasing places: Department stores, duty-free shops, ginseng sales centers, Namdaemun Market, Jingdong medicinal materials market, Geumsan, Ganghwa

Sporting goods

Tennis racket , baseball gloves, snow wear, golf balls, golf wear, hiking boots, sports shoes and other sporting goods have long become popular products among tourists. Especially recently, Ms. Park Seri won the LPGA and U.S. W0men’s Open championships, making golf supplies even more popular. World-famous brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Thunderbolts, as well as world-famous Korean brands such as Pro-specs and Asics, are also popular due to their low prices.

Purchasing places: Department stores, Itaewon, Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market, Busan International Market.

Ancient artworks

Korea’s ancient artworks contain five thousand years of tradition and history. Its paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, woodware, metal crafts, etc. are numerous and dazzling. There are many types, ranging from pottery from the Unified Silla period to white porcelain from the Joseon era. Korean pottery can be found in Insadong Ancient Art Shopping Street, large and small ancient art museums, memorial halls, galleries, etc., which are full of traditional culture.

Shopping places: Insadong, Changanping Antiques Market, Hwanghakdong Market.

Apparel

South Korea’s fiber production industry has a solid foundation and is very developed. The quality and diversity of its fiber products have long been world-famous. Finished clothing and custom-made clothing made of various clothing materials can be purchased at low prices. This is the most significant feature of the Korean clothing market. In particular, custom-made clothing can be collected in just 2-3 days and is often cheaper than finished clothing from home countries. The colors, textures and trend-forward designs of children's and women's clothing add infinite fun to women's shopping. In addition to department stores, markets, and shopping malls, there are also stores specializing in famous brands in Myeongdong, Itaewon, Apgujeong, and other places.

Purchasing places: Myeongdong, Apgujeong-dong, Munjeong-dong, Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market.

Gemstones

South Korea’s amethyst, smoky quartz, etc. have long been famous around the world for their color and transparency, and their processing technology is also world-class. Amethyst, smoky quartz and other products made with abundant raw materials and advanced technology, and various designs have become one of the representative products. The jade in South Korea mainly includes white jade, topaz, red jade, black jade and other varieties. South Korea has rich reserves and can be mass-produced, so the price is cheap.

Purchasing places: Department stores, Myeongdong Shopping Street, Sogong Shopping Street, Hoehyeon Shopping Street, Yejidong Precious Metal Alley, Gangnam Precious Metals Shopping Street, Riri Precious Metals Sales Center.

Watches and jewelry

Watches and jewelry produced in South Korea are also popular products among general tourists and foreign businessmen. Watches range from the famous Korean brand Galaxy to toy watches for children. Jewelry has become the most ideal gift for relatives and friends because of its high quality, diverse designs and excellent color. Earrings, rings, hairpins, etc. are all popular products among tourists and foreign businessmen.

Purchasing places: Yejidong Precious Metal Alley, Namdaemun Watch Alley, Itaewon, etc.

Folk crafts

Folk crafts are an important heritage representing the cultural level of the country. Dolls dressed in gorgeous Korean clothes, fans, masks, embroidery, wood carvings, teal ducks, kites, conch lacquer products, etc. fully embody Korean traditional culture and life art. These handicrafts that express the joys and sorrows of Koreans, ranging from small boutiques to daily necessities, are the best gifts. The Korean Traditional Crafts Museum in Gyeongbokgung Palace displays works of famous craftsmen (human cultural assets).

Shopping places: Itaewon, Namdaemun Market, Insadong, Changanpyeong Antiques Market, Hwanghakdong Market, Gyeongju Folk Craft Village.

Utensils

Korean utensils include celadon, white porcelain, pink and green sandware, etc., with various styles, colors, and textures. In addition to household daily necessities, they can also be used as decorative art utensils. There are also many. There are many types of utensils for general household use and traditional palace use, including lacquerware, woodware, glassware, etc., all of which are of high quality and low price. You can buy it in department stores, markets, and ceramics specialty stores.

Purchasing places: Department stores, Namdaemun Market, dishware specialty stores, Icheon Pottery Village.

JINDARI Brush

JINDARI is the name of a place located in Baekwon-dong, Gwangju. In the past, people who lived here made a living by making brushes through cottage industry, so the brushes they made were called JINDARI. brush. Nowadays, JINDARI brushes are even more famous because they inherited the craftsmanship of An Jong Sunon, the fourth generation of brush makers, and have been listed as "local intangible cultural assets". Ahn Jong Sunon's JINDARI brush is Korea's highest-quality brush made from weasel tail hair and wool, and is highly praised by calligraphers across the country.

Korean jewelry

Large department stores sell many brand-name jewelry. The main gold and silver jewelry stores in Seoul are concentrated in Bongui-dong and Yeji-dong on Jongno 3-ga, and near the highway long-distance bus station in Banpo-dong. Chuncheon in Gangwon Province is rich in nephrite, which is of high quality and low price due to direct processing and sales by manufacturers. Among Korean local products, the most valuable is Korean amethyst, which is very popular with tourists.

Shopping places: department stores, Myeongdong Shopping Street, Jongno Gold and Silver Jewelry Street, Yejidong Gold and Silver Jewelry Street, Gangnam Gold and Silver Jewelry Street, Riri Gold, Silver and Gem Sales Center, Oksan House, etc. .

Jeju’s local honey

The excellent quality of Jeju’s local honey is unmatched by other places. Mandarin orange honey and rapeseed honey are honey extracted from the flower seeds of mandarin orange and rapeseed in Jeju. They have a unique aroma and taste. The refined Fenghuang Essence is quite effective in health care and gastrointestinal diseases. Although it is expensive, many people are still interested in it. Recently, products made by adding cactus to local honey have become popular among tourists.

Price: About 10,000 Korean won (100 yuan) per kilogram of honey

Homespun clothes

It is the traditional clothes worn by Jeju people at work. The juice extracted from unripe persimmons is used to dye the cloth. The persimmon juice makes the cloth durable and prevents damage to the cloth. In addition, it can also keep clothes stiff like starch. Bags and hats made in this way are easily available in specialty stores.

Ra gong lacquer ware

Ra gong lacquer ware is a craft technique that carves shining shells, paints them with various colored strips, and uses wooden boards as the base for decoration. The main production place is Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Paggak Craft

Paggak Craft is a traditional craft handed down from the Korean royal family and is made of horns.

Wood Crafts

Korea’s wood crafts include many artistic products that reflect long traditions. Wood crafts range from decorative items to furniture. These products can be purchased at tourist souvenir shops or antique furniture stores.

Fan

The fan is a tool used to shake out the wind to relieve the heat, and is used by gentlemen to be chic. There are mainly Tai Chi fans painted with Tai Chi patterns and combined bamboo fans painted with the Four Gentlemen. The combined bamboo fans are painted with landscape paintings, Four Gentlemen, etc., which have artistic or antique value.

Hanji handicrafts

Korean traditional hanji made from Chu tree has properties such as durability, gloss, and water absorption. Korean paper made from traditional Korean paper is gorgeous and colorful. Korean paper craftsmanship is a valuable asset of Korean art. You can find boxes that can hold small items and Korean paper puppets at souvenir shops.

Puppets

Korean folk craft shops have puppets wearing traditional clothes, which are gifts that can leave you with memories. Especially the puppets wearing gorgeous traditional clothes. This traditional Hanbok is the dress worn at weddings.

Oranges are a specialty of Jeju Island. They were a tribute to the royal family a long time ago. Now, perfume and chocolate made from oranges are must-buy souvenirs for every visitor to Jeju Island.

Jeju’s specialties include citrus and Jeju perfume. There are duty-free shops in Yeondong and the airport. There is also a comprehensive Korean souvenir department store in Laohengdong near the airport. Visitors can buy Korean souvenirs and tourist souvenirs.

Jeju Island (Chejudao) is the largest island in South Korea, also known as Tamna Island, Honeymoon Island, and Romantic Island. It is located at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, across the Jeju Strait from the peninsula, and South Korea to the north. The southern coast is more than 90 kilometers away, and it is the gateway to the Korean Strait. Its geographical location is very important. Jeju Island has a total area of ??1,826 square kilometers, including 34 islands including Niudao, Wodo, Hyeongdo, Chaguido, Mosquito, and Hodo. It is 100 kilometers away from South Jeolla Province in the northeast and is an ideal tourist and fishing resort. Here you can view historical sites and enjoy the natural landscape. The island is home to the tallest mountain in South Korea - Mount Halla, which is 1,950 meters above sea level. You can also go hiking, horseback riding, driving, hunting, surfing and golfing. There are sparsely populated areas here, and the land is vast, either in mountains and forests, or in farmland and cottages. Farmers mainly grow rice, vegetables, and fruits. The largest and most spectacular ones are rapeseed flowers. In spring, the ground is golden and very beautiful. Jeju Island is South Korea's main fishing base. There are both temperate marine fisheries, tropical and subtropical fisheries in the nearby waters.

Shopping instructions: To buy cheap and high-quality souvenirs in South Korea, please pay attention to the following points:

1. Buy certain items in the off-season, such as leather jackets, and buy them in the summer. It’s much cheaper to buy in winter.

2. Go to the places where locals shop most often, such as Myeongdong and Namdaemun Market in Seoul, South Korea, which are cheaper than those in Itaewon.

3. It is best to invite locals to take tourists to the shopping area to shop together. The price will be more reasonable and it will save time.

4. When purchasing leather goods, you must be good at identifying the quality of leather goods and choose a good market. For example, in Namdaemun, Seoul, a leather goods may be priced at 40,000 won. Go to the wholesale center Dongdaemun may only cost 25,000-30,000 won.

5. It is best to buy Korean ginseng at duty-free stores. When buying it in ordinary stores, pay attention to the exclusive trademarks.

6. When purchasing antiques, be sure to obtain permission from the Cultural Administration Bureau before taking them out of the country.

After shopping in duty-free shops, foreign tourists can apply for a refund of surcharge, special consumption tax and defense tax according to certain procedures if they meet the relevant conditions:

1. A total purchase value of 50,000 Products worth KRW and above must be taken out of Korea within 3 months from the date of purchase.

2. When shopping at a duty-free shop, present your passport or other identification documents, fill in your name and address on the receipt, and the store will give the customer two purchase certificates and a return envelope.

3. When leaving the country, submit two purchase certificates and a return envelope at the customs office at the airport or terminal.

The customs will check whether the purchased items can be taken out of the country, and then stamp the certificate on the purchase certificate. One copy will be mailed by the customs to the duty-free shop, and the other will be returned to the buyer for safekeeping.

4. If the purchased goods are sent in a small package, present the mailing receipt to the customs.

5. After receiving the purchase certificate from the customs, the duty-free shop will remit the refund to the buyer within 20 days.

6. The handling fee required for remittance will be deducted from the buyer's refund.

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