Korean Diaries 2020

Despite all the technology available for online journaling, paper diaries are more popular than ever. And writing diary pages by hand and then uploading the pic onto Instagram#일기 is a thing too.

So the bookshops are full of stickers and other accessories to make your diary Instagram-worthy! And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about people after 20 years of teaching, it’s this:

you’re never too old to enjoy a sticker

In a business English class of middle-aged civil servants, the atmosphere became palpably more intense after I revealed the collection of stickers that the winners of the task would receive…

I agree. Stickers are ace.

So let’s get our diaries and start sticking…

coffeeshop diaries & planners

I think you can get a diary from almost any chain shop in Seoul. It’s a great idea: sell (or even give away) journals with your company’s logo on it so the diarist will be reminded of you every day when they write! Brilliant.

This year the trends are either minimalistic colours and designs or covers illustrated with cute characters; and the large chains have been collaborating with famous international artists to create some enticing products.

Starbucks Korea seem to have started the trend back in 2003 for coffee shops selling diaries or giving them away in exchange for stamps.  

The coffee shop chain Angel-in-us is selling Snoopy diaries for 30,000 won. Snoopy is illustrated by Swedish-French graffiti artist André Saraiva who has also collaborated with other brands including Louis Vuitton and Chanel. 

BTS fans might be interested in the BT21 planner from the coffeeshop A Twosome Place. (BT21 are characters designed from a collaborative project between LINE FRIENDS and BTS) a complete journal set that includes the planner, a desk calendar, a weekly planner, a notepad, Monami pens, Silicone coin purse, and a desk mat to lay everything out on. For 29,000 won! There’s some cute BT21 stuff on Instagram too.

Ediya coffee chain has come out with a set of three items and they are all labelled in English in case anyone is confused: ‘I’m a planner’ I’m a calendar ‘ and ‘I’m a pouch’. Helpful.

diaries from food chains

Then there are some cheaper diaries …

Baskin Robbins have a planner and pen set that can be bought for 3,900 won when you buy something in the shop. It’s designed by British-based Finnish designer Janne Iivonen.

And there are lots of FREE diaries around as well. Many companies give their employees a diary for the new year. (I’ve already been given two!)

Bhc chicken are giving away a rather stylish looking diary ( in black or white) if you order the olive chicken from their menu. 

Korean design

But if you’re after some Korean design, I like the diary series by Iconic. (I saw them on the Kyobo bookstore website)

They illustrate some everyday scenes from life: sitting in front of the fan on a hot day or sitting cross-legged on the floor in pyjamas drinking coke and eating fried chicken! (In my case, I’ll just change the coke for wine!)

And of course there are the cute diaries from Kakao friends.

Will you be keeping a diary next year?

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