Korean Job Discussion Forums

[GoldMember]

So I'm looking for some Korean souvenirs to send to some family members.
Magnetic Hanbok plate-nope
Cute doll wearing Hanbok-good possibility

Then there's the chocolate selection.
Chocolate covered Macadamias, made in Australia, nah I want something more authentic.

So how authentic is this: (I kid you not about this!)
Chocolates filled with red pepper paste,
Chocolates with what apeared to be a kimchi filling, they were called kimchi chocolates, of course.
Finally we had the soju chocolates, filled with soju.

Needless to say I did not buy any of these original Korean chocolate creations.

I ended up with some ginseng, not covered in chocolate though.

Anyone got any suggestions, for normal and nice souvenirs?

So if I went to Alsaka, would the eskimos try to sell me whale blubber filled chocolates as a souvenir?

[Whistleblower]

I would get those kimchi chocolates for that miserable uncle. Where can you buy those? It's my mum's b'day soon.

[billybrobby]

Let's hope you get a better souvenir than you did on your trip to England.

[kermo]

I've brought home wacky stuff, mainly, like seaweed flavour potato chips, bizarre t-shirts and stationery, and Crunky bars. However, when I'm trying a little harder, I've been known to pick up some gift bags in Insadong (the colourful quilted kind, very cheap, goes over a treat), those honey-thread candies, those pretty little rice cakes with nuts and dried fruit, fans, paintings, and tasteful fridge magnets shaped like traditional stuff.

[icicle]

Actually chilli chocolates are very nice ... The chilli adds to it in a positive way. I haven't seen it or eaten it here in Korea ... but it was often available in our normal supermarket in Australia.

[sistersarah]

I think Korea has beautiful souvenirs. Check out Namdaemun for cheaper prices. I like giving traditional handicrafts like chage (inlaid mother of pearl boxes), embroidery (boxes, mirrors, and such), anything made from hanji paper, lamps, fans, ....there's so much really. I'm surprised you're having trouble finding stuff.

[captain kirk]

I guess the OP was at Namdemun? Insadong is the place to get souvenirs. I like the carved ornaments made of Korean jade mined from around Chuncheon. If you look carefully there are the odd red coral carvings of fantastic animals like foolish tigers, etc. for about ten bucks each (actually those are my favouite souvenir I think). There are genuine old Korean coins and the Chinese coins used here for about a buck each from around the coin shops in Insadong. And so on.

[cheeseface]

The Kimchi chocolates don't have kimchi in them!!!!

They are just made with the some of the kimchi bacteria in them!!

[earthbound14]

Korean masks from Andong - 30,000 won

Korean pottery (Celadon pottery from Gangjin is the most famous) pretty pricey - 20,000 - 30,000 won for a nice coffee cup (not traditional but nice) or tea cup. You can get cheaper stuff if you look around for it. You can also get a complete tea set or some nice pots or vases.

Tea - some tea is really good but again a little pricey. I really like I-sul cha, but classic green tea is good too. 20,000 to 30,000 won for a container of loose tea. It's actually a better deal than it looks as you can use a small amount a few times and it lasts for a long time.

Incense - Korea has some really good incense

Korean lacquer box - small pretty boxes that are good for jewelry

Bell from a temple - you can buy a small bell just like the ones hung on the roof of many of the temple in Korea. Can be nice hung outside on the deck or patio.

Korean movies!!!

Buddhist painting - a tiger, some bamboo or some fish

buddhist candles are pretty cool

Korean booze - Dong-dong ju, Baeksae-ju, quality Soju made from natural ingredients, are some of my favourites, generally cheap.

Bamboo products

a pair of carved ducks for newly weds - the ducks mate for life and the sculpted ducks are part of a traditional wedding.

Korean lamps

[ds_fan]

hanbok clothes do the trick should provide for some entertainment when they open it up nd try them on laughing

[sistersarah]

[Underwaterbob]

Someone mentioned the good Soju. You can get it in bottles shaped like the masks. I drank a bunch with a friend back home expecting it to be somewhat similar to the regular Soju here. Turns out it's 90 proof and a drunk very similar to that of tequila. It was a pleasant, drunken surprise.

[earthbound14]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Ha ha - I brought home the red-pepper chocolates on my last trip. I also brought a special gift set of gouchu-jong my principal gave me as a gift for my student winning a speech contest. They were definitely the subject of more curiosity than appreciation.

[betchay]

something to add to your "bizzare" korean souvenir list...

http://www.buhaykorea.com/2008/07/07/alcohol-and-sex