Korea is gaining popularity in the tourism market. People from different parts of the world go to the eastern country to admire the beautiful mountain landscapes. Korea is 70% mountainous. Every year the resort is visited by thousands of climbers. And people come here for shopping. It is really impossible to leave Korea without buying yourself something as a gift. In the major cities of the country, there are many duty-free outlets where you can buy a memorable souvenir. Consider what to bring from South Korea for yourself, friends and loved ones.
Features
Tourists are interested in South Korea. It is not easy for a foreigner to get into the North. But you should not strive there either, because travelers can see the most interesting things in the southern country: picturesque ski resorts, exotic beaches, tangerine groves, arenas for bullfights.
South Korea is a picturesque and diverse country. Its capital is Seoul. This is a huge metropolis located on the banks of the Hangang River. This is where tourists come for shopping.
The country is located in the temperate zone. The best time to visit is the months from April to October. The ski season starts from November.
For Russian citizens, Korea is a visa-free country. Russians can travel to the colorful cities of the eastern country for 60 days, after which a visa will be required.
The country has a Tax-free system. Purchases over 30,000 South Korean Won (KRW) will receive a 10% VAT refund.
Korea is a safe tourist country. Almost all city streets are well lit; CCTV cameras have been installed in different areas. City streets are constantly patrolled by police cars.
Shopping
Before answering the question of what to bring from South Korea, let's find out the features of shopping in this country:
- Large stores in the country are open from 10:30 to 19:30 seven days a week. Small retail outlets open their doors to customers in the early morning and close late in the evening.
- The largest Seoul markets are Tndaemun and Namdaemun. Wholesale trade is carried out there at night.
- There is a market for medicinal plants and herbs in the country - Kendon. It works from 09:00 am to 18:30.
- Koreans can provide no more than 5% discount on the goods sold.
- On Namdaemun and Gyeongdong markets, you can only pay with the national currency of the country.
- In large supermarkets, goods are sold at lower prices. Items that are not damaged can be returned without any problems.provided there is a check. In small retail outlets, the purchased product is returned in exchange for a new one.
- Shoes in Korea are measured in millimeters, while clothes are measured in centimeters.
- Practically in all Korean stores you can pay with VISA and Mastercard cards. The market accepts cash.
Souvenirs
What to bring from South Korea as a gift? First of all, you should pay attention to national souvenirs:
- Porcelain modern items. Beautiful and high-quality porcelain dishes are sold in shops and markets. It can be purchased at reasonable prices. The only thing not worth buying in Korea is porcelain antiques. It cannot be taken out of the country.
- Wooden masks depicting folk characters. They are imbued with the spirit of originality and look very original. They can be safely presented as a present to business partners, colleagues.
- Lava figurines made on the volcanic island of Jeju.
- Fans and dolls in traditional costumes.
- Figurines made of wood and shells.
- Lacquerware decorated with mother-of-pearl (snuff boxes, caskets).
- Celadon products that look very beautiful and elegant. And all thanks to a special coating - green glaze. But there is one drawback - they are quite fragile, so they require careful transportation.
- Korean paintings, calligraphy panels are in great demand among tourists. They can be made to order or purchased fromfinished.
Korea is the only country on earth in which women take valuables from the bottom of the sea. Korean women boldly descend to the seabed without scuba gear in search of beautiful shells. Therefore, when answering the question of what to bring from South Korea, many recommend paying attention to products decorated with sea shells. Such a souvenir will be especially valuable if, when handing it, you tell the story of the extraction of shells from the bottom of the sea.
National treats
What can I bring edible from South Korea? Fans of different national dishes should try kimchi. These are fermented vegetables that can be stored for a long time. They contain certain bacteria that make food easier to digest. Residents of the country use kimchi with any dishes.
Hanhwako, traditional Korean sweets, will be a great gift. Fans of hot spices can buy chudzhan. This is a paste made from red peppers.
When leaving Korea, be sure to take traditional tea and liquor with you. Chaksolcha is considered the most delicious tea drink in the country. It is made from young tea leaves.
Alcoholic Korean drinks are divided into 5 types:
- Yakchu is a refined liquor.
- Thakchu is an unrefined liquor.
- Soju - distilled liquor.
- Fruit wines.
- Healing wine drinks.
Korean treats are better to buy in storesduty free.
Kim sea kale is very popular in Korea. It can be found on store shelves in its natural form or fried in sesame oil.
Those who want to surprise a friend with an exotic dish should buy Korean canned silkworm larvae.
Clothes and shoes
What to bring from South Korea for sale? Silk products are in great demand in the country. Koreans make dresses, scarves, underwear, scarves from silk. It is recommended not to save on such things. The high cost of the product corresponds to its quality. It lasts a long time and will look like new even after a long time. Visitors buy silk products for themselves, as a gift to friends and for resale.
Korea is a country specializing in the production of leather and fur products. The range of goods here is very wide. From March to September, many stores set discounts on fur and leather products. Therefore, they are purchased not only for themselves, but also for the purpose of subsequent resale.
Cosmetics and jewelry
What to bring from South Korea for a woman? Korean cosmetics will be a great option. Local cosmetics stand out for their quality and reasonable price. Every year they win the trust of Korean women and tourists. The main component of almost all Korean cosmetics is ginseng root. It is known for its healing properties.
Sellers offer beautiful ladies face masks based on collagen, peeling rolls, BB creams, patches. Despite the lowvalue, all beauty products are of high quality.
As for jewelry, pearl jewelry is considered traditional here. They are decorated with earrings, rings, necklaces. To avoid fakes, it is better to buy jewelry in specialized stores.
Ginseng
This root needs special attention. The fact is that Korean ginseng is considered the best on Earth. It has unique properties: it helps to strengthen the immune system, tones the body, restores vitality. Ginseng root has long been used by Koreans to treat various ailments. It is thanks to him that Korean cosmetics are so popular. What to bring from South Korea, except for ginseng-based cosmetics? The plant is added to teas, medicinal fees, herbal tinctures. They can be easily found in the market and in stores. Fresh and dried ginseng roots are also sold in Korea.
Electrical goods
There is also an electronics market in the country. What to bring from South Korea from electronic and digital technology?
First of all, the Korean electronics market is located near Yongsan station. It is more profitable to buy electrical goods here than in city stores. The product range is diverse: from flash drives to computers. Korean electrical appliances have long established themselves in the international market. They are widely sold in online stores. As for the quality, it will depend on the manufacturer.
Not recommended for purchase in KoreaCell Phones. Their quality is good, but Korean and Russian cellular standards are different. Therefore, in Russia, there may be problems with the settings and subsequent use of a Korean phone.
What to buy a baby?
Now let's find out what to bring from South Korea to children. First you need to buy national sweets. There are plenty of them in Korea. Basically, these are useful candied fruits neatly packed in boxes. Despite the seeming simplicity of preparation, they have a complex recipe.
In Korea, you can buy children's electronic goods at reasonable prices for your child. There are also classic toys here. So, a girl can pick up a beautiful Korean doll, and a boy can pick up an original toy car.
Gift for a man
The choice here is varied. When thinking about what to bring from South Korea to a man, first of all, you need to pay attention to high-quality Korean purses, belts, briefcases. The country specializes in the production of leather goods, so the purchased items will be of high quality and will last for a long time.
A lot of sporting goods in Korea. Here you can buy tennis rackets, football and baseball accessories, quality sportswear and shoes.
A colorful and memorable gift will be the national hanbok costume. The male version consists of wide trousers (paji), shirt, top jacket (pho). It is made from one-color bright fabrics. This costume looks very impressive andoriginal, but this is a festive version of clothing - it is not intended for everyday wear.
