AsiaGuideKoreaSeoulShoppingSoutheast Asia

Quintessentially Korean Souvenirs You Can Get In Insa-dong

There are so many things to do in Insa-dong, South Korea. From museum-hopping to trying out street food, to souvenir shopping, it’s all here. This lively neighborhood is also the best place to shop for souvenirs. You’ll find all sorts of souvenirs, from traditional Korean items to K-Pop goods.
 
Clueless on what to buy? Make your shopping experience hassle-free with this list of must-buy souvenirs!
 
Insa-dong is famous for handicrafts, including Korean pottery. You’ll find local pottery shops along the streets of Insa-dong, too. These shops sell pottery items such as jars, vases, and bowls of different shapes and colors. Some shops also offer pottery classes too, if you’re interested in making your own!
 

Korean stamps

Image via KKDay supplier
Korean stamps or dojang is a popular souvenir that you can also get in Insa-dong. These are handmade stamps used to seal your name on the paper. The best thing is that you can have it personalized too. Some shops even offer stamp-making lessons! You can have names engraved for a touching, personalized gift for your friends.

[visual-link-preview encoded=”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”]

 

 

Tea sets

Aside from souvenir stores, you’ll also find many tea houses in Insa-dong. That’s why most stalls in Insa-dong sell tea sets as souvenirs. Porcelain teacups, ceramic teawares, and antique teacup collections are available in stores. Get these as souvenirs and bring home a traditional Korean teahouse with you!
 

Art supplies

Insa-dong is heaven for many traveling artists and crafters. It’s the shopping destination for all things arts and crafts. In Ssamji-gil, you’ll find hundreds or even thousands of quality art supplies. You can buy paints, stationeries, calligraphy pens, brushes, and more at affordable prices. There are street artists in the area doing live portraits!
 

Hanbok

Image via KKDay supplier
Did you know you can have your own custom-made hanbok in Korea? Most shops sell traditional and modern hanbok for adults and children. It’s the perfect souvenir to get if you want a piece of ancient Korea with you! It can be expensive, but it’s still a good buy. If you only want to rent one, you can do so as there are hanbok rentals in the area. Tip: go on a traditional hanbok dress experience tour while in Seoul!
 

Korean paintings

Aside from art supplies, you can buy art prints, paintings, and posters in Insa-dong. Various designs, textures, shapes, and sizes are available in most stores. You can also purchase handicrafts and sculptures, great for home decorations.
 

Traditional Korean masks

Want something quirky on your souvenir list? Shop for Korean masks or Tal, which make for great wall decor. These eye-catching traditional masks are used to ward off evil spirits in a religious sense. While for some, they use these artistic masks for theater shows. Masks of different expressions are available too. Give these as souvenirs for your quirky pals!
 
Want to explore more of Insa-dong other than its shopping spots? Check out the famous attraction called Dynamic Maze! Browse sightseeing tours, accommodations, and workshops on KKDay.

[visual-link-preview encoded=”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”]

[visual-link-preview encoded=”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″]

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons
Tags: