Korean Gift-Giving Culture
While universal in its appeal, gift-giving holds a deeply rooted place in Korean culture, representing a nod to social deference, hierarchy and respectfulness. Koreans teach their kids never to go to someone’s home empty-handed. It’s also customary to bring a gift when meeting someone for the first time, especially in formal or significant situations.
After reconnecting with my Korean birth family, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet them in person. Along with the mixed bag of emotions I carried, I knew that it would be appreciated to come bearing gifts from the US. While tackling this initially daunting task, I reached out to a few close Korean friends living in the US. They offered me some brilliant suggestions on what my Korean birth family might love.
This experience was also helpful when I traveled to Korea as a US Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. My program advisors strongly encouraged us to prepare American gifts for our potential host families and our Korean coworkers. Building on the advice I received before my first trip to Korea, I felt more confident preparing gifts for another round of people I hadn’t yet met.
Whether you need a little or a lot of guidance, here’s a quick list of foolproof ideas. Just remember – it’s the thought and intention behind the gift that matters most.
1. Health is Wealth: Bring Lots of Vitamins
Vitamins are really popular in Korea, so every time I go, I like to stock up and bring them as gifts. Certain products are more expensive in Korea than in the States, making them thoughtful and appreciated gifts.
Also, while healthcare is also very affordable in Korea, I found that whenever I have a common cold or alignment, I still need to see a doctor to get access to stronger cold/flu and pain medication that I can usually get easily over-the-counter (OTC) in the U.S. For this reason, I also like to stock up and give over-the-counter pain meds, digestives, allergy medicine, and common cold and flu medicine to myself and loved ones.
Other supplements like fiber pills and gummies, probiotics, and cold suppressants are also welcomed gifts. Here a few brands I have gifted:
- Olly: Gummies and supplements for various needs like sleep, immunity, and beauty
- Centrum: Popular multivitamins for all age groups
- Tums: Digestive relief for heartburn and indigestion
- Nature Made: Affordable, high-quality vitamins and supplements
- Airborne & Emergen-C: Immune boosters
- Advil, Excedrin, Tylenol: Trusted OTC pain relievers
- Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec: Effective antihistamines for allergies
2. Tasty Treats: American Food Products
I love trying snacks from other countries, and I equally love sharing American snacks with my Korean friends, coworkers, and family. They’re always a hit and make for great conversation starters!
While a lot of popular brands can be purchased at Korean supermarkets like Emart and Costco, they’re often quite pricey for the average Korean consumer. Plus, the Korean taste palette is also a bit different, and I find snacks that I expect to be salty always on the sweeter side. When choosing snacks or candy as gifts, I try to select food items that I know are either more expensive or less common in Korea.
Here are some popular hits:
- No Bake Dessert Mixes: Ovens aren’t common in Korea and I personally love baking! I have made this with my niece and she absolutely loved it. It was such a unique process for her.
- Jello products: Jello in the popular American sense is super rare. It’s easy to make and is a great addition to hosting parties and family dinners.
- American chips: Takis, Cheetos, Doritos, Pringles (with exclusive American flavors).
- American candy: Nerds, Starbursts, American-only Skittles flavors, Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers, Butterfingers, Tootsie Roll, Smarties, Candy Corn, Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids (sour candy is less common in Korea), etc.
- American Classics: Peeps, Kraft Mac and Cheese, etc.
- Nut Butters: Nutella, peanut butter, almond butter. Consider organic or higher quality products for an extra special treat
- Nuts: They are usually more expensive to buy in Korea, and older generations especially love them. Consider chocolate or flavored dipped nuts, as well.
- American seasonings: Think Chick-fil-A sauce and Trader Joe spices, or less widely used spices like cumin, turmeric, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, coriander seeds, allspice, caraway seeds, and cajun seasoning.
- Premium Chocolates: Brands like Ghirardelli, Lindt, or Godiva
- Local Specialties: Maple candies or syrup, Hawaiian macadamia nuts, or Texas BBQ sauces, etc.
3. Trending Alert: Trader Joe’s is a MUST
I thought it was a joke the first time someone told me Trader Joe’s is now trending in Korea. The biggest reseller in Korea, the Mini Canvas Tote Bag, often sells for an insane price that’s much higher than even American market value.
While unfortunately you can no longer bring The Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (due to the recent ban on poppy seeds in Korea,) there are many other options at Trader Joe’s that are trending as big hits. Here are some of the most popular items to pack:
- Trader Joe’s Mini Canvas Tote Bag
- Trader Joe’s hand creams
- Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips (or any salty snack)
- Trader Joe’s Contemplates Inner Peas
- Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets
- Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Slightly Coated Dark Chocolate Almonds
- Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries
- Speculoos Cookie Butter
- Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzel Nuggets
- Soft & Juicy Mango/Chile-Spiced Mango
- Joe-Joe’s
- Cooking seasonings (e.g., Green Goddess Seasoning Blend)
4. In-Style: Luxury and Popular Name Brands
From observation and many conversations with Korean friends, there’s a conspicuous appreciation of luxury and name brands in Korea. Since many American brands are marked up higher in Korea, bringing a few of the most popular and trending items will definitely make you a popular gift-giver.
These are the brands and types of products to look out for:
- Designer bags and clothes: Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Coach, Michael Kors, Chanel, Dior, Kate Spade New York, Tiffany & Co. Louis Vuitton, Hermes, etc.
- American clothing brands: GAP, Old Navy, Levi’s, American Eagle, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Supreme, etc.
- Sportswear: Premium brands like Nike, Adidas, Patagonia, North Face, New Balance, or Under Armour, especially limited-edition items.
- Caps or Beanies: Branded caps (New Era, MLB,etc.) are trendy.
- Candles: High-quality scented candles from brands like Yankee Candle or Bath & Body Works.
5. Skin Care Obsessed: American Beauty
While there’s no arguing that Korean skincare is a global sensation, I found there’s still a lot of American brands and cosmetics that Koreans go crazy over. Consider luxury Western makeup brands that offer free gifts. If you fly Korean Air, you can also buy these gifts right on the plane for a pretty decent price.
Bringing other brands that are less common in Korea, but have a huge following in the US, particularly on social media, won’t miss with the younger generation. As of March 2024, Sephora is closing its doors in Korea, so any beloved or featured brands that are only sold here would be a nice touch.
While Korea is well-known for its skincare, Western imports are usually more expensive, so even if they are available in Korea, they are well-recieved and appreciated. Here are some popular brands to consider:
Makeup
- Fenty Beauty by Rihanna: I particularly love their long-lasting matte lip colors.
- ColourPop Cosmetics: Korean eye shadows are often more neutral and less pigmented from my experience, so when I want more color, I love ColourPop. (I haven’t seen the brand in stores in Korea).
- MAC
- Maybeline
- Naked
- Nars
- Urban Decay
- Anastasia Beverly Hills
Skincare
- Kiehl’s
- Aveda
- CeraVe
- SkinCue
- Bath and Body Works: I especially love their various scented hand sanitizers.
Mixed Beauty Products
- Chanel
- Dior
- YSL
- Glossier
- Estee Lauder
- Bobbi Brown
- Clinque
- Burt’s Bees: While available in Korea nowadays, there is a wider and cheaper range of products available in America vs. Korea.
6. For Kids: American Children’s Books
Education (especially English education) is incredibly important in Korea. If you know you’ll be bringing gifts to children, age-approriate English and picture books make great gifts. Consider the classics like Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, or the Magic Tree House. Other great titles and authors include:
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Chika Chika Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
You can also bring picture dictionaries or educational books that emphasize learning grammar, phonics, or spelling. Before purchasing any books, we strongly encourage you to check the child’s English level vs. solely relying on their age or grade level since there are many differences and factors that can determine what level is most appropriate.
7. Minty Fresh: American Dental Care Products
Admittedly, this suggestion is more a personal bias but it is also one shared by friends. American toothpaste is often different from Korean toothpaste, and I prefer the former.
American toothpaste includes higher fluoride levels, foams when activated, and is dominated by strong flavors. There is also a stronger emphasis on products that feature over-the-counter whitening agents, formulas for sensitive teeth, enamel repair, tartar control, etc.
While Korean toothpastes offer a lot, too, and come with their own unique attributes, using the American products have always felt like a sliver of home. While it mostly all boils down to personal preference, bringing American dental products (e.g., toothpaste, listerine, breath mints) might be a unique experience and an unexpected gift.
You might also want to consider bringing the latest toothbrush products like Oral B’s electric toothbrush, which are usually more expensive in Korea and at duty-free shops. From experience, I’ve found that gifts that are really unique or more expensive to purchase in Korea are big hits. Here are a few specific product recommendations that I love gifting:
8. Make it Special: Local and Unique Gifts
When in doubt, bring something local or unique to the area where you live. Things that might seem small or insignificant to you may be special and meaningful to the people who will receive them.
Consider bringing items like hats or sweatshirts from local universities or your alma mater. Nowadays in Korea, a big trend is to wear American collegiate apparel. While increasingly more common to see in stores, it will have a lot more meaning if it comes from a place that’s connected to you.
Other regional gifts like Starbucks mugs or other memorabilia that specifically say the name of the city, town, or state that you are from or are popular places to visit (New York, California, etc.) are also winners.
From personal experience, specialty food or drink items like regional wines or 100% authentic Adirondack or New Englan maple syrup have been really well received and appreciated. These are not common or more expensive to purchase in Korea, so it is viewed as a special treat.
Lastly, if you happen to know what American pop culture the person you’re giving the gift enjoys, novelty items featuring popular Amerian TV shows, musicians, movies, musicals, etc. are sure to please.
Final Suggestions and More Gift Ideas
Gift-giving should be fun, not stressful, so I hope this guide has been helpful as you prepare for your trip to Korea. As you’re packing, consider buying small gift bags and tissue paper ahead of time. It’ll save you a trip to the stationery store!
However, if you run out of space or forget, don’t worry! You can find these items at any local Daiso (Korean dollar store), Artbox, stationery store, or even a convenience store.
If you’re interested in wrapping your gifts more traditionally, check out our article on bojagi, the Korean art of wrapping gifts with cloth. Or, explore our guide on the best gifts to bring back from your next trip to South Korea!
Finally here’s one last miscellaneous gift idea: Tide-to-Go Stain Removal Stick. It might sound silly, but my family and friends absolutely love it! After all, when you’re in the land of kimchi and red-colored foods, a stain stick is always a must have item.
Happy gifting and have a great trip!
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