A List Of The Best Gifts To Give Your Korea Loving Friends & Family
More and more people around the world are interested in Korea whether it be due to K-Pop or K-Dramas, or a friend that lives in Korea and can’t stop talking about it maybe, I’m not sure. Whatever the case, there are is a ton of interest in South Korea these days and there are plenty of unique gifts to send our Koreaphile friends and family abroad.
Whether you need a gift for the K-drama fan, K-pop fan, or maybe the Korean language learner, I’ve got you covered. Here is the ultimate list of Korean gifts suitable for any holiday.
Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift, Christmas gift, or just a surprise “I’m thinking about you” gift, here is a list of special things you can get from Korea, or just buy online if Amazon has better shipping rates because sometimes it totally does.
If you’re in Seoul, check out my guide for where to go to get your shopping on to help you get started with the locations and then check out this list for unique gifts from Korea and then shop shop shop. Also, if you are IN Korea and are actually looking for gifting etiquette at events here in Korea, then check out this guide for what gifts to give in Korea from weddings to housewarming parties.
Note: If you want to buy any of these awesome Korean items for yourself, definitely do, I certainly won’t judge.
Want to skip around? Here is what you’ll find here.
- Gifts For The Korean Language Learners In Your Life
- Gifts For The Foodies In Your Life
- Gifts For The K-Beauty Lovers In Your Life
- Gifts For The K-Pop Lovers In Your Life
- Gifts For The Korean Culture Lovers In Your Life
- Gifts For The K-Drama Lovers In Your Life
- Gifts For The K-Fashion Lovers In Your Life
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)
For The Korean Language Learners In Your Life
More and more people around the world are interested in learning Korean these days. Some just want to understand the music or dramas that much more intimately, while others are looking to be conversational before they come. Maybe they wonder why the friends can’t be different ages in Korea or why Koreans always ask “have you eaten?” instead of “how are you?”.
The Sun & The Moon Story
Raising a bilingual child has taught me a lot and one of the things my husband and I quickly realized was that our daughter wanted to hear every bedtime story in both of her languages. This meant either daddy or mommy were translating on the fly and as fun as that is… it’s tough. I began to write and the first book I wrote and had illustrated by a local foreign artist is The Sun & The Moon Story.
Meant to be read with young Korean and English speakers, it is a gorgeous gift for a child or a parent that is raising a multicultural child. The illustrations pay a loving ode to both western and Korean imagery and the story is calming and relaxing. I’ve self published the book, and you can buy it on Amazon.com.
The Thunderous Hello
The second in the series of books for bilingual children. These are meant to be colorful, whimsical, and calming stories. The Thunderous Hello is about a very loud thunderous cloud who is really just trying to say “hello”. Clearly he is using his outside voice. This is a beautiful gift for children or families that are interested in using two languages in their household. Meant to be read together. You can buy The Thunderous Hello on Amazon.com here.
Hangul Keyboard
Learning Korean online is now even easier than before but it’s not easy at all if you don’t have a Korean/Hangul keyboard. A Hangul keyboard makes typing and those assignments SO much easier.
Hangul Writing Notebook
Show your friends you support their passion and send them some cute Hangul practice notebooks. There are plenty to choose from and they’ll love the design… and the opportunity to write write write.
Fun Korean Learning Material
There are plenty of study materials out there and if your friends are serious about it, they’ve probably found the study guides they want to use. So, send them something a bit fun that they probably don’t have. They could learn some fun Korean idioms, read some funny short stories, or use the KPop Dictionary. If you are looking for more language learning options, check out this list of the best books for learning Korea.
Korean Inspired Bag
Every good student needs a backpack. The “Hello Beautiful” backpack is from The Soul of Seoul Shop and features a facade that can be found in the popular Myeongdong shopping district. There is also a fun backpack with Seoul and its symbols all over it. Check out the fun Korea-inspired bags available on The Soul of Seoul Shop.
For The Foodies In Your Life
O’Sulloc Tea
O’Sulloc is the premier green tea producer in Korea with all of their products made from the green tea fields on Jeju Island. As the largest tea producer in the country and the most famous, you can be assured this is the perfect gift for your foodie friends. O’Sulloc has some delectable options. Their tea sets are actually the best souvenir from Korea too, in my opinion.
Korean Snack Box Subscription
Do you have friends that couldn’t get enough of the quirky fun snacks they found in the convenience stores here? Did you know there’s an awesome snack subscription box you can subscribe to? There are monthly subscriptions, but there are also just fun boxes full of the best snacks and specialty items in Korea great for holiday gift giving. Also, there are VEGAN options too!
Daebak Box
Another great Korean subscription box is the Daebak Box. They do fun boxes that mix snacks, beauty, and culture.
Check out their seasonal box subscription option for something fun and showcases Korea through the seasons.
Make-Your-Own Makgeolli Kit
Do you love makgeolli? Have a friend that loves the rice wine famous in Korea? Then this would be a wonderful gift to yourself or for someone you know. Get this step by step brewing guide that comes with a brewing vessel, the rice, nuruk, yeast and everything else you need to make your own Korean rice wine. What a great thing to give someone interested in alcohol, how to make it, or Korea.
If you want to learn more about the kit and how it works, check out my review of the Hyesun House: Make-Your-Own Makgeolli Kit.
Ramen
This may seem obvious, or you might be someone that tells me they have plenty of ramen abroad but I’ll tell you that it’s not the same. Korean ramen is one thing that my husband always packs when we’re traveling. If you send it, also send it with directions. My sisters were flabbergasted the first time they saw my husband make ramen. Learn more about our favorite Korean ramen.
A Korean Cookbook
Send the gift of cooking right to your friends and family with an awesome Korean cookbook. Maangchi is super popular for not only her website with info and videos, but also her amazing cookbooks. Check them out and buy one for your Korean cook pal!
Korean Laver
If you’ve been to Korea, then you’ve definitely enjoyed some Korean laver, called gim, when you’re eating. This dried seaweed is a staple and is the perfect gift if you’re going to meet Korean friends or family but is also a great gift if you want to take something home. Make sure you get the good high quality stuff like Dae Chun Gim when you’re shopping.
Subscription boxes are an awesome gift to give someone and there is everything from Korean beauty boxes, to snack boxes and cute sock boxes too! There’s really something for everyone and you can sign up for monthly boxes or just get a one time gift! Want to know more about the awesome Korean subscription boxes out there? Check out this box with the best Korean subscription boxes out there.
For The K-Beauty Lovers In Your Life
Korean Beauty Products
Sulwhasoo
Sulwhasoo is the premier luxury skincare brand from Korea and if you are lucky enough to be IN Seoul, Korea, you can visit the impeccable Sulwhasoo Flagship Store. If you can’t come though, they are worth every penny.
Mixsoon
MIXSOON is a minimalist Korean beauty brand that was founded in 2020. They want to eliminate unnecessary ingredients from the products we put on our skin and focus on the core ingredients. The entire bean line is lux and so good for the skin. Don’t sleep on this Korean beauty brand.
SKIN1004
SKIN1004 is a Korean skincare brand that was first launched in 2012. They focus on using high-quality raw materials with a focus on the Centella Asiatica sourced from Madagascar. SKIN1004 is passionate about using safe ingredients that are good for people with sensitive or irritated skin and are a cruelty free Korean skincare brand.
For The K-Pop Lovers In Your Life
K-Pop Gear
K-Pop has made it around the world and back a few times now and there are all kinds of gifts you can give the friends that are K-pop lovers. From the BTS gear to the bedding to everything in between. Figure out what that friend is missing and snag it for them.
Lightsticks
Any K-Pop fan is going to have or want the lightstick from their favorite group. KPOP lightsticks are a unique sign that identifies different fandoms. Each KPOP group has a different stylized lightstick and everyone from new fans to highly interactive fans try to get one. If you want a guide to all things Korean lightsticks, check out this Guide to KPop Lightsticks: What to Know and Where to Get Them.
For The Korean Culture Lovers In Your Life
Korean Celadon
Cheong-ja pottery in Korea has become widely known as celadon in the west, though celadon actually denotes the distinctive jade-green color of the pottery, and is a beautiful piece of porcelain made by artisans. There are vases, cups an saucers, and numerous other beautiful pieces that can easily be found in the Insadong district and would be greatly appreciated by any Korean culture lover.
Posters For Home Decor
Decorate your room or give your friend a beautiful poster that features a picture of Seoul or Korea. From the iconic I Seoul U sign in Yeouido Han River Park, Eulalia grasses in the Sky Park in the autumn, lotus flower lanterns that hang above Jogyesa Temple, to Deoksugung Palace, to street art in Seoul and flower bibimbap, there’s something to hang in your bedroom, kitchen, or living room.
Discover Seoul Pass
If you’ve got a friend coming to Korea or even someone that lives here, the Discover Seoul Pass is a great gift and a great deal. The cards are good for FIVE years too so if you’ve got someone that is planning to come to Korea, maybe this is a little nudge for them to get on the planning. They can visit a ton of different spots around Seoul using the pass and get in for free so they’ll definitely appreciate the gift.
Mother Of Pearl Gifts
You won’t get very far in Insadong without spotting a shop that carries mother-of-pearl products. The coastal city of Tongyeong is one of the main producers of fine mother of pearl inlay works in Korea which makes sense since the colorful material comes from the abalone. The natural shells are sanded down and then adhered to various materials like wood, porcelain, or metal to create beautiful unique works of art.
For The K-Drama Lovers In Your Life
Subscription To Viki
Viki.com is the number one site to watch all of the Korean dramas you and your friends love. If they don’t have a subscription yet, get them one as a gift!
An OST To Their Favorite Drama
As someone who is married to a musician who makes music for dramas for a living and is thus on numerous OST’s himself, I’m a big fan of anyone that goes out and purchases a CD… or downloads it I suppose. Though, I like CDs. We have a wall of CDs in our house. Do you know what drama they’re in to? Check out this list of amazing Korean dramas with really good OSTs.
K-Drama Shooting Spots Tour
Maybe your friend is coming here to visit you, or lives in Seoul too! What better gift than the gift of a guide to show them all of those awesome K-Drama shooting spots. There are a TON of spots in Seoul you can check out and they’re scattered all over. To get some background and have some photography fun with a group, join this awesome tour with Trazy to go to the spots in seven different dramas and explore the Bukchon Hanok Village, N Seoul Tower, the Han River and more! It’s a great way to spend the day in Seoul for any K-drama obsessed.
For The K-Fashion Lovers In Your Life
Modern Hanbok
I personally have three modern Hanboks and LOVE them. They’re super comfortable and you can wear them mixed and matched with your day to day clothing as well. Check out the beautiful Hanboks for children and adults from Joteta. You’ll want to wear yours every day. Want more options? Check out this guide to buying a modern Hanbok online. There are so many great and beautiful options now.
Korelimited Streetwear
Korelimited is a Korean streetwear company that produces really interesting and well designed apparel that pays homage to Korea in a variety of ways. The company produces funky and cool items that are perfect for everyone with smart designs that represent Korean culture, Korean history, and Korean ingenuity. They make limited edition runs so if you see something you like, you need to jump on it fast. Their products are high-quality and comfortable.
The Soul of Seoul T-Shirts
Check out some of the awesome shirts I’ve designed myself. I have loved living in Seoul for the past 15 years. Whether you’re here, or just want to rock some Seoul gear, check out some of the rocking shirts I made. You can find out more about these and other awesome t-shirts that celebrate Seoul and Korea on The Soul of Seoul Shop. Strut yourself in this and other Seoul-inspired fashion.
Hangul Shirts
A good t-shirt or sweatshirt is always a great gift in my opinion. Grab one with a bit of Hangul on it and it’s even better and perfect for that Korea-loving chingu you’ve got.
Korean Socks
For this, you need to be in Korea to really see what all of the fuss is about. Walk down the streets of Insadong or Myeongdong and you’ll find stalls and stalls of quirky, funny, and colorful socks. At about $1.00 a pair, they won’t break the bank either. Buy your friend a baker’s dozen and they’ll be set for winter.
Finding the perfect gift for your friends and family doesn’t have to be difficult. Think about what they love most about Korea whether it be dramas, music, or the culture, and narrow the gift options down. There is plenty to choose from and plenty of places to shop. Get out there and find the best gift for your Korea loving friends and family this year.
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One Comment
Chocoviv
Cool Korean gifts!