Where to buy souvenirs to bring from Korea

Whenever you go to another country, you're kind of expected to bring something for your closest friends and family when you go back hom...

Whenever you go to another country, you're kind of expected to bring something for your closest friends and family when you go back home. Korea has the cutest souvenirs you can bring home, you just have to know where to buy them.

Here are the major places where you can buy Korean souvenirs at affordable prices.

1. Myeongdong

photo from Korea Tourism Organization

What: Cosmetics, Face masks, cute socks, Kpop albums

Korea is famous for their skin care and cosmetics. If you want to get great deals for your favorite facial cleansers, moisturizers and other skin care products, you might want to check out Myeongdong. Big sales open every Friday and lasts until Monday. You can check best Korean face masks here.

Cute socks are also everywhere in Myeongdong. A pair of socks will cost you 1,000~2,500 KRW, depending on the style. You can always bargain with the vendors and they may just give a free pair when you purchase ten socks!

If you're a Kpop fan, Myeongdong is a must-go for you! Kpop shops which sell albums, light sticks and other official merchandise.

While you're at it, you can also check the must try Korean food in Myeongdong.

2. Namdaemun

What: Nail clippers, Key chains, Fans, Ref magnets other general merchandise

Namdaemun is a traditional market where localized souvenirs are sold. You can also find "I Love Korea" shirts here. Most of the items are sold wholesale, so you are sure that you get the value for your money here.

3. Insadong

What: Traditional Korean merchandise

If you're a fan of handmade crafts, Insadong is the place for you. Handwoven scarves, handcrafted name stamps, cellphone cases and caricatures, all of them are here! It can be pricey, but it's top quality.

4. Daiso

What: General cute Korean merchandise

For cute items for all-around use, take a trip to any branch of Daiso scattered all around Korea. They have sections for beauty, kitchenware and stationery. Cute pens? They have it. Eating utensils? They have it. Literally, "da isseo"

Best part? No item is priced more than 5,000KRW!

5. Lotte Mart

What: Korean snacks

Nothing beats food as your souvenir. It fills not only the heart, but also the tummy! Korean food producer, Lotte, has a supermarket dedicated for their products! These snacks are available in all major supermarts, but if you buy at Lotte Mart, you can buy them with big discounts!

One highlight of Lotte Mart is that you can try the snacks first before you purchase them. Free tasting is a good culture that you can anticipate in Korean supermarkets.

And after shopping at Lotte Mart, you can check other things that you can do at Seoul Station.

These are just some of the major places where you can buy souvenirs in Korea. We'll be back with more of the shopping places in the next part!