Korean Christmas Gift Ideas

If you’re looking for presents to buy in Seoul this Christmas, here’s a selection of places to find ‘Christmassy’ themed gifts or just presents with Korean designs. Hangul notebooks, diaries which double as pillows, and Santa Claus hand creams are some of the possibilities in the shops this month.

Bookshops

1 HANGUL INSPIRED GIFTS

There are so many bookshops in Seoul these days. But they are selling fewer and fewer books (as many people tend to buy books online) and are concentrating more on stationery, games, gifts, and even coffee shops and restaurants.

I saw these hangul notebooks designed by Baemin in the stationery section of a Bandi/Lunis bookstore. I love these simple black and white hangul designs. There are quirky hangul designs for everything from stationery and stickers to everyday living (mugs, towels,) and fashion (t-shirts, socks etc.) (pics from Baemin)

2 DIARIES

Still in the bookshop, how about a diary for next year?

But no ordinary diary. This one from Lightree has a padded cover which can double as a PILLOW. So if you’re in the middle of writing something and need a snooze, there’s no need to go and lie down, you can simply snooze at the desk on your diary pillow! Of course for a book it does get a bit bulky, but I like it just for the novelty value.

According to the info on the packaging, the diary can also be used as a wrist cushion for a mouse for a computer. So three uses in one. Can’t be bad.  Looks like they sell in Korea and internationally.

25,000 won.

Coffee Shops

3 MUGS & COFFEE

There are 17,000 coffee shops in Seoul. All competing with ever fancier coffees and more luxurious cakes. And at this time of year, some of them are also selling festive mugs and coffee blends.

Starbucks Korea has come out with a range of Christmas coffee goodies with a Nutcracker theme.  And their seasonal menu includes holiday milk chocolate, toffee nut latte, and cranberry rolls…

Tea shops are increasing in Seoul too although nowhere near as popular as coffee. Osulloc is a lovely (but pricey) tea shop specialising in green tea from Jejudo.

Souvenir Shop

4 KAKAOFRIENDS MEMORABELIA

The Kakaofriends shops always look so inviting – tell me you don’t want to have a look around the shop when you see it here!

And this year the characters in the shop are dressed in Santa hats. But I was also tempted by this adorable waffle maker. Not sure how well it would work, but if I didn’t already have a fancy Norwegian waffle maker I might have considered buying it.

Take a look at last year’s gift ideas which included kakaofriends speakers . And if you don’t know who the Kakao Friends are, then I introduce them here.

 

Cosmetic Stores

5 BEAUTY PRODUCTS

As well as a coffee shop on every corner in Seoul, there’s also a Korean cosmetics brand shop!

Innisfree tends to have a limited Christmas edition on certain cosmetics lines.

And this year’s Christmas range includes scented hand creams, Christmas nail stickers, perfumed diffuser, scented candles, and various creams and serums…