Aside from the many memories, photos and letters from students, I did buy some keepsakes to ‘remind’ me of my year of living in South Korea. Always keeping my eye out for pieces that I love, souvenirs are such a special objects that I hope I can have a place one day to display them all.
One of the good things about South Korea is that they still have a strong manufacturing industry so many items are still made in the country. For me, having items made in the country is a big factor when buying souvenirs.
We are Suwoner keyring
I lived in the town of Suwon and always thought that I should find something that reminds me of the town. At first, I thought that I could buy myself the local soccer team shirt but 1) I know next to nothing about soccer 2) they are always made of polyester so I never reach for them and 3) I never seemed to be around to catch the games (where I could go to a store at the stadium to buy a shirt). Towards to end of my stay, I was roaming around the cafes around the fortress walls when I came across a small cafe that was selling this keyring. The cafe name is something else though so I’m not sure if it’s actually from a local designer or just a happy coincidence that it is just ‘We are Suwoner’ but I thought it was still a nice momento to keep as a reminder of the beautiful city that I loved to call home.
Small ceramic set
I picked up this set of vases from the art district of Insadong. Celadon (pottery items made of this green colour, which is also celadon) spread from China to parts of Asia including South Korea. During the Goryeo dynastry, celadon became the traditional Korean ware and was also the time of peak high quality production. Obviously these important artefacts are in the museums but there were small pottery pieces being sold in Insadong. Moon jars are also famous in South Korea which were made during the Joseon dynasty. You can find small moon jars and magnets in Insadong too. I thought this was a nice reminder of the history of South Korea and portable enough for me to bring back home.
DIY iron on pouch
A nice and easy souvenir was a store where you could make iron on pouches, bags, keyrings and pencil cases. They had plenty of Korean themed iron on patches and I decided to choose the flag as a little reminder. I think I was one of the few big kids in the store who was making something for myself and not a gift for someone else! It’s handy to keep any loose essentials in my bag together and easy for me to move from bag to bag if needed.
Set of prints from Busan
Attracted by the colours of these prints, I bought this set of prints from a small gallery in the Gamcheon Cultural Village. In both prints, the artist included the Gamcheon Cultural Village and to me, both prints signify adventure, daily wonder and human connection (isn’t that what life is all about?). One day in my future place, I’ll have these hanging side by side.
Pouch, bookmark and Busan magnet
The pouch and bookmark were the first 2 souvenirs that I bought in South Korea. The pouch has proven very useful so far. I’m not sure why I bought the bookmark, I have some bookmarks lying around but for some reason, I’ll use a piece of paper as a bookmark instead. I need to swap these pieces of paper out. The busan wooden magnet I bought was from another cultural village in Busan. To me, it is also a nod to Soju, one of the national drinks of South Korea.
Do you have any favourite souvenirs you use or see daily?
Lingo in Transit 
You got some beautiful souvenirs! Korea makes some wonderful gifts to take home, locally or overseas! I have tons of souvenirs from my time in France, but one that I use to this day is this lovely face towel I got from a coworker when I first started teaching abroad, embroidered with the phrase “Elle est belle, ma Normandie,” in honor of living in Normandy for two years of my time. Very nice and really useful!
That’s such a beautiful gift!
In my younger travelling days, I bought home nice souvenirs for family, but rarely anything lasting or of quality for myself – given I was single and renting. This is something I regret now, and in later ‘older age’ travels in Japan I do look out for quality ‘souvenirs’ that are handmade and local where possible – beautiful metal hand worked salad servers, hand made glass object, wood block print, delicate pottery vases, lovely handmade bowls etc… things that not only give me pleasure, but things I can hand down when I head off on the great travel adventure to the next life LOL! So I’m glad to see you have bought some lovely keepsakes.
That’s great that you are able to do that now though! Wood block prints are so beautiful in Japan! I did come home with 3 (with the intention to hang them one day!). I’m sure you’ll be collecting more beautiful things still in your next life (hahaha!).
It is always fascinating what kind of souvenirs each person chooses to purchase to remind them of their travels. I love that thay they were made in Sth Korea! I also look for traditional items made in that country.
I think that too. I wished more people wrote about their souvenirs!
You might have inspired me, Sophie!
I looove souvenirs! I literally got a ring for a Euro in Spain last year, and I thought it’s gonna break soon because it wasn’t any quality material, but here I am, a year later, the ring still on my finger, and I wear it every day 😀
I loved this post, and the souvenirs are so cute, I especially like the ceramic set, it looks beautiful. Thanks for a little background story about it all! And yes! to using anything else to mark books instead of bookmarks hahah I collect them, but also never use them, I can’t lie!
I hope your ring will last many more years. Thank you so much for reading and your comment. I’m glad I’m not the only one that just uses anything but a bookmark!
Thanks for sharing this idea Anita
I love that these are locally made! Absolutely adore the little jars set, so lovely! In some destinations, it is really hard to find locally made/sourced souvenirs – in my recent visit to Egypt I was quite disappointed, as even local bazaars sold all the same stuff made in China and reproduced 1000x. The one thing I always buy is a magnet, and I became sort of a collector. It is light and doesn’t occupy too much space in the luggage. Also, not owning a house keeps me in check, so when I do buy something I try to make sure it will have some use besides decorative (I do fail miserably at this often and I’m tempted by the many little treasures I want to bring home to remind me of my travels!)
It’s so disappointing isn’t it, especially when you think you might find some really interesting and lovely handmade goods. I hope you show us some of your magnets one day! I would say most of mine as also decorative! It might help if we had our owns places and knew what we needed.
It is a good idea to share some of my favourite magnets here one day 🙂
love the bags!
Thank you!
I love these! I have a bunch of Korean bookmarks at home as well; they are all so lovely 🙂
I hope you are enjoying your bookmarks!