Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pangaea]

I can find tons of stuff here to buy for my mom and other female relatives, including my young girl cousins, but I am having trouble finding things for my dad and the boys in my family. Any suggestions? My dad might like some collectibles or small antique items. Anyone know of any shops that might carry things like that?

I also have a 13 year old cousin who asked me for bakugan but I haven't been able to find them anywhere. Other than that, I don't really know what to get him. My brother just got married and has a 9 year old stepson. I've never met him, but I am sending wedding ducks to my brother and his wife and I would like to include something for him. I asked my brother what he likes and he said he likes video games. Not all that helpful. I don't really know what to get for boys of those ages. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

[rumdiary]

One of those chips that go in a Nintendo DS loaded up with games.

A teapot and green tea.

A jar of that fancy ginseng paste/oil (for stamina!)

Most markets like Buy The Way sell packages of Korean drinking snacks. I bought one for my friends that had different kinds of nuts, dried beef, squid etc. and gave it to them with juice boxes of soju and they thought it was pretty funny.

I don't know, I'm grasping at straws. The only think I bothered buying for myself as a souvenir is an old map of Seoul from a museum. I also bought old stamps for my dad, but he's a stamp collector.

[Artris]

Rice Wine (Makali or something) would be a nice gift for older male relatives. I don't even drink except to be polite on occasion: and I've found rice wine to have a pleasant taste/texture. That or even some Soju.

For the boy, harder to say. As a keep sake from Asia, maybe some sort of pocket knife/coin collection would be in order. If he likes videogames, maybe a gift card of some sort as a last resort (or straight out money). Personally I would aim for some sort of keep sake. Even at that age people collect things: I have a box full of small trinkets from around the world (we had a number of foreign exchange students). Small metal figures of fish/crocodiles from brazil, a coconut carved in the shape of a mother gorilla and child from china, a military hat from Russia. I was thoroughly impressed with all of them, and got most of them between the age of 9 and 14. Just try to find something uniquely Korean and interesting. Make sure it isn't made in China. Even if he doesn't like it now, he may appreciate it when he gets older.

[madoka]