15 THINGS TO BUY IN KOREA - Spicy Ramyeon, Honey Butter Almond ...

15 THINGS TO BUY IN KOREA - Spicy Ramyeon, Banana Milk, Honey Butter Chip & Almond
15 THINGS TO BUY IN KOREA - Spicy Ramyeon, Banana Milk, Honey Butter Chip & Almond

Ever wonder what are the things to buy in Korea in year 2017? That's the question I ask to myself and thanks to my awesome friends on Facebook they have recommended many good stuff and I would like to share with you the list of things to buy in Korea, or should I say things to buy in Seoul, Korea? The first 5 are my favourites things to get in Korea. Do note that the list below are just my personnel recommendation only. So please choose the one you like the most or recommend me other stuff if I missed them out =)

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15 Things To Buy In Korea

1. Binggrae Banana Milk


The first thing that I would do when I arrive in Korea is to have this Korean Banana Milk from the convenient store. I prefer the original Banana flavor in oval diamond shape packaging. It also comes in three other flavors (Strawberry, Melon and Less Sugar/Light version). Original Banana Milk Flavor priced at KRW 1300 while there will always be 2+1 promotion for other flavors. I had the Chocolate Banana Flavor during my last visit.

If you wan't to bring it back, go to the local supermarket and find the 6-in-1 Banggrae Banana Milk as they are usually cheaper if compared to the convenient store right beside your hotel.


2. Korean Skin Care Products - Facial Mask

Korean Skin Care Products - Source
Look at Korean, they always have that silky white and smooth skin. It is good to buy the facial and skin care products from local brands like Innisfree, Laneige, SkinFood, Natural Republic and many more. I'm not professional in the skin care/make-up series but you will know what to buy when you reach there hahaha

PS: Look for the facial mask that's selling in bulk and under promotion price. My friend recommended Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. Some of the facial mask is cheap but smaller in size. I got the mask that is smaller in size and can't fit my whole face hahaha


3. Korean Snack -  Honey Butter Chips and Honey Butter Almonds

Things to buy in Korea - Honey Butter Chips and Honey Butter Almonds

【HIGHLY RECOMMENDED KOREAN SNACK & SOUVENIR!!】 One of my top favourite thing to get in Korea, the Honey Butter Almond! The Almond comes in different flavors too, including Wasabi (I don't really like Wasabi but it was good), Caramel and Yogurt Flavor. Not sure if the Mixnut is new series of product but I kinda like it as long it is Honey Butter Flavor. Do compare the price at Olive Young, Duty Free Shop and local market in Myeongdong/Insadong as the price varies a lot.

Things to buy in Korea - Honey Butter Chips and Honey Butter Almonds

Honey Butter Chip - One of the main snack you should try in Korea too. I personally don't like chip unless I prepare extra calories quota for this sweet junk food. You either like it sweet or you hate it. Other recommended Korean snacks like Market O Brownies, Tteokbokki Chips, Lotte Chocolate Rice Cake Pie.

Things to buy in Korea - Honey Butter Chips and Honey Butter Almonds
Korean Potato Snacks to buy in Korea recommended by +Jian Goh 


4. Korean Instant Noodle (Ramyeon)  - SamYang Hot Chilly Noodle "불닭볶음면" 


Things to buy in Korea - SamYang Hot chilly noodle 불닭볶음면

Korean Instant Noodle is different from the Instant Noodle in Malaysia. They are thicker and bouncier in texture. One of the popular flavor is their SamYang Hot Chilly Noodle 불닭볶음면. Do go for the Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen. Please be aware of the spiciness, you may want to add in cheese or prepare a glass of milk to ease the spiciness of the ramen. If you have a weak stomach, be ready when you go to the toilet next morning too hahhaa


5. Osulloc Green Tea Spread

Things to buy in Korea - Osulloc Green Tea Milk Spread

If you love green tea, you will definitely love this Osulloc Green Tea Milk Spread. Many of my friend recommended this when I ask what are the things to buy in Korea. You can eat it with bread and make delicious green tee flavored sandwiches for picnic too. Anything you like with green tea.

6. Cute Character Socks

Things to buy in Korea - Cute Cartoon Character Socks
You can find these cute cartoon characters socks especially in Myeongdong market. Some of the socks I got it from LINE Friends store and the price starting from KRW 1000. I personally think these are cute wearable and souvenir for friends who love adorable stuff.

7. Dried Seaweed Snack

Things to buy in Korea - Dried Seaweed Snack
Seaweed snack is one of the souvenir gift that you would want to buy and give to your friends since they looks bulky and in beautiful packaging (but light in weight), you can just buy it from duty free shop and let them deliver to airport for self-collection. Usually it is cheaper if you buy from the local market. There were too many choices for me to show so above is just one example

8. Soju & Makgeolli (Korean Alcohol Drink)

Things to buy in Korea - Makgeolli
If alcohol beverage is your friend, and you want your friend to have a taste of Korea. Get these as souvenirs. Korean Makgeolli is a slightly sweet alcoholic beverage native to Korea. It is made from rice or wheat mixed with nuruk, a Korean fermentation starter. It has a milky, off-white color and has about 6–8% alcohol by volume.


Things to buy in Korea - Soju
Soju (燒酒) - clear and colorless distilled beverage of Korean origin which is usually consumed neat, and its alcohol content varies from about 16.8% to 53% alcohol by volume. Soju is traditionally made from rice, wheat, or barley. Check out the varies of Soju flavors above and you should try them before bring it back.


9. K-Pop & K-Drama Goods

Things to buy in Korea - K-Pop K-Drama Merchandise

If you are fans of Korean Drama and K-Pop music, you shouldn't miss out getting your new calendar, posters, and many other merchandises with your oppa on it. For example, you would love to have GongYoo oppa calendar since the debut of Goblin Korean Drama. I foresee merchandise for 'Descendants of the Sun' stars Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo will be famous this year since they are getting married this year on 31st Oct.


10. Korean Silverware Utensils (Pot and chopstick)

Things to buy in Korea - Korean Utensils and Pot

Other than Korean spicy ramen and instant noodle, you might be fancy of Korean stainless steel utensils like the chopsticks and this special pot for you to cook the perfect ramen.  I personally find them useful especially if you love Ramyeon and instant noodle haha. Sujeo (수저) is the Korean word for the set of eating utensils commonly used to eat Korean cuisine. The word is a portmanteau of the words sutgarak (숟가락, "spoon") and jeotgarak (젓가락, "chopsticks").

11. LINE Friends & Kakaotalk Official Merchandize Store 

Line Friends Flagship Store - Cute Brown plush toy in dog, dragon, giraffe husky corgy outfit
LINE Brown plush toy in cute outfits

For people who are big fans of LINE social-chatting apps, you would love to check out the huge LINE FRIENDS store in Myeongdong. They have all these cute LINE Plush Toys Phone case, Portable Fan, Hat, Socks and many more cute merchandize that you can find in one place. We love the BIG Brown that we found in Myeongdong outlet.

Huge Brown at Line Friends Flagship Store, Myeongdong #TCSelfie
Huge Brown at Line Friends Flagship Store, Myeongdong #TCSelfie

LINE Friends Phone Case at Shinsegae Duty Free Shop
LINE Friends Phone Case at Shinsegae Duty Free Shop
Kakaotalk Plush Toy @ Shinsegae Duty Free Shop
Kakaotalk Plush Toy @ Shinsegae Duty Free Shop


12. MCM Branded Backpack

If you enjoy luxury brand, you would want to get a MCM backpack. In 2005, MCM brand was acquired by Sungjoo Group, a South Korean retail business founded by Sung-Joo Kim, the youngest daughter of South Korean magnate Kim Soo-keon. Hence it is cheaper to get your MCM Backpack/leather goods in Korea itself. Do compare the price between the boutique store and duty free store. Boutique store has more choices although the price will be higher.

13.  Korean Red Ginseng


Ginseng is also one of the top thing to buy in Korea, you can easily see it available at the duty free shop. It is recommended that you get ginseng from the Gyeongdong Yaknyeong Market, Naemdaemun Market, duty free shops, and the stalls that set up shop during regional ginseng festivals. The Gyeongdong Yaknyeong Market is highly recommended, because the area is full of eastern medicine wholesalers and eastern medicine doctors- there is a wide variety of ginseng to be had here at competitive prices.

If you don't have time to go to the market and willing to pay more, you may consider those Red Ginseng Capsule or Extract that you can find at the duty free store.

14. Korean Fashion


Whenever I am in Seoul, especially Itaewon area. You can see most of the local are very well dressed up with the latest Korean Fashion trend. Hence I do recommend you guys to go for it if you like to look handsome and pretty with their seasonal outfit. I actually enjoy looking at people who dressed up well and take portraits for them =) Perhaps I should get some nice Korean outfit for myself in near future.

15. The Missing Piece


Things to buy in Korea - Kakaotalk Merchandise

Yeap, you read it right. I gotta say my shopping list for Korea is not perfect and I might have missed a few important stuffs that tourist should buy and bring back to share with their friends and family. Let me know at the comment section below if you want to suggest it so I can add them into the list here. 



Namdemun Gate (Sungnyemun Gate) at night
Namdemun Gate (Sungnyemun Gate) at night
Other than just shopping, do spend some time to enjoy the unique scenery, people and culture in Korea itself. I've been to PyeongChang recently and I love the nature scenery near Kensington Flora Hotel. That's all for my 15 things to buy in Korea (version 2017). Hope you guys find it helpful.

For travel photos that I captured during my visit to Seoul, do follow my instagram @tianchad:




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