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wants to eat something at fmd_goodPizza Vita
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wants to browse a market at fmd_goodCentral Mall
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Where can I buy leather?
theres a spot in itaewon near the hamilton hotel actually, couple of custom bag makers who sell offcuts for pretty cheap if youre just doing small projects. my friend got a whole bundle of veg-tan scraps for like 15,000 won once. just walk down usadan-ro and youll see a few storefronts with rolls of leather out front, theyre used to hobbyists coming by
depends what kind of leather youre after honestly. if its garment or bag leather, head to the dongdaemun market area, specifically the jeongnyangni-dong side where all the leather wholesalers are. for raw hide or crafting leather, theres a small street near euljiro 3-ga station exit 8 with a handful of shops that sell by the sheet and will cut to size. theyre cash only mostly and close early around 6pm so dont show up late
oh you could try the leather alley in majang-dong, its near the livestock market and a bunch of tanneries and suppliers are clustered there. they sell all sorts from cowhide to lambskin, just look for the stores with huge rolls stacked outside. its a bit of a hike from the subway but worth it for the variety
Typical Souvenirs from Seoul (2026)
Hanji, traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark, is a beloved souvenir for its durability and beauty. Visit the Hanji Jip in Insadong (30 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu) to… 🏺 Hanji Paper Crafts
Hanji, traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark, is a beloved souvenir for its durability and beauty. Visit the Hanji Jip in Insadong (30 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu) to find handmade boxes, lamps, and framed art. Prices range from 10,000 to 50,000 KRW depending on the item. Hanji has been used for centuries in doors, windows, and books, and its fibers make it surprisingly strong and translucent.
🍵 Traditional Tea Sets
A ceramic tea set is a classic gift that reflects Korea's deep tea culture. Head to Ssamziegil in Insadong (44 Insadong-gil) where multiple artisan shops sell hand-thrown cups and pots. Expect to pay 30,000 to 100,000 KRW for a quality set. Korean tea ceremonies date back to the Goryeo dynasty, and owning a personal set is a way to bring that ritual home.
🧵 Hanbok Accessories
Instead of a full hanbok, consider buying norigae, traditional ornamental pendants that hang from the jacket or skirt. The Gwangjang Market (88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu) has stalls with silk-braided norigae in vibrant colors. Prices are typically 5,000 to 20,000 KRW. Norigae were once worn to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, making them a meaningful keepsake.
🎨 Minwha Folk Paintings
Minwha, or Korean folk paintings, depict tigers, flowers, and scenes of daily life with bold colors and humor. The Insadong area is full of galleries, but for an authentic selection, visit the Gahoe Minwha Workshop (11-3 Gahoe-dong, Jongno-gu). Prints start at 20,000 KRW, while original works can exceed 200,000 KRW. These paintings were often commissioned by commoners to bring prosperity and protection to their homes.
🪭 Hand-Painted Fans
Buchae, or traditional folding fans, are both practical and artistic. You can find beautifully painted fans at the Namdaemun Market (21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu) for 3,000 to 15,000 KRW. Fans have been used in Korea for over a thousand years, and they appear in court dances and as symbols of scholarly refinement. Choose one with a mountain or crane motif for a classic design.
🍶 Makgeolli and Soju
For a taste of Seoul, bring home a bottle of premium makgeolli or craft soju. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza area has specialty liquor stores like The Sool Company (26 Eulji-ro 44-gil, Jung-gu) offering curated selections. Prices range from 10,000 to 40,000 KRW per bottle. Makgeolli is a milky rice wine that dates back to the Three Kingdoms period, and modern craft versions are a hit with locals.
📿 Beaded Bracelets
At the Jogyesa Temple (55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu), you can purchase prayer beads and bracelets made from wood or semi-precious stones. These are sold at the temple's small gift shop for 5,000 to 30,000 KRW. The beads are often blessed by monks, and wearing them is believed to bring peace and mindfulness. It's a simple yet spiritual souvenir that connects you to Seoul's Buddhist heritage.
📚 Korean Literature in Translation
Pick up a translated novel by a Korean author to remember your trip by. The Kyobo Bookstore at Gwanghwamun (1 Jongno-gu, Jongno 1-ga) has an extensive English-language section. Paperbacks cost around 15,000 to 25,000 KRW. Reading works by Han Kang or Kim Young-ha offers insight into modern Korean society, and the store itself is a cultural landmark.
fwiw the makgeolli rec is good but the real gem is the dongdongju at the seoul folk flea market in dongdaemun, it's the unfiltered stuff they serve in big brass bowls at pojangmacha stalls. you can haggle a liter jug for like 7,000 won and it's way more rustic than anything from the sool company, plus the market itself is a maze of vintage junk and old korean snacks, makes for a better story than a fancy bottle.
also for the hanji stuff, if you're near insadong anyway, duck into the little alley behind the jogyesa temple gate, there's a tiny shop that sells hanji postcards with pressed ginkgo leaves, 1,000 won each, and they're flat enough to mail home without extra postage. i sent like ten of those to friends and they all thought i bought them at a museum.
one thing the guide missed: the vintage brass ritual bowls at the gwangjang market basement, the ones with the little legs for ancestral rites. they're like 4,000 to 9,000 won depending on size, and they make weirdly good planters or incense holders back home. the older vendors will throw in a wooden spoon if you ask nicely.
ngl the tea set rec is solid but if ur on a budget the ceramic shops in ikseon-dong have smaller cups for like 8,000 won and theyre just as pretty, plus the whole hanok village vibe there is way chiller than insadong. also the norigae at gwangjang is real but haggle, i got mine down to 4,000 won by pretending to walk away. another thing nobody mentioned: get a brass yut stick set from the same market, it's a traditional game koreans play on new year, costs like 8,000 won and it's a fun conversation piece back home. the guide's minwha tip is good too but the workshop does classes if u want to paint ur own, that's a cooler memory than buying a print.
honestly the makgeolli tip is the one i'd double down on, but skip the sool company and hit the gwangjang market food alley instead, the stalls there sell fresh makgeolli by the bowl and will bottle it for u to take home, tastes way better than anything shelf stable. also for hanji, the guide mentions boxes but nobody talks about hanji magnets, they're like 2,000 won at the insadong craft alleys and make tiny colorful fridge souvenirs that don't take up luggage space. one thing that's totally missing from this list: yeot, the chewy taffy stuff, you can watch it get stretched at the yeot stalls near namdaemun and it's a great edible gift for coworkers, just avoid the ones with nuts if ur flying international, the texture gets weird at altitude.