SEoul Free and EAsy : 5 Places to buy Pretty and cheap Souvenirs and Gifts

If you have a lot of friends, colleagues and relatives which you need to buy souvenirs and presents for when you travelled. Here are some recommendations that will get you good quality products so you don't look too stingy and also will not burn a hole in your pocket. It is like we don't want to look cheapskate but we don't want spend a lot.The places are conveniently located so you have more time to enjoy yourselves.

1. Supermarket or Hypermart
    They not only sell the snacks and kimchi that you want to buy home. They also carry a lot of other items that you can buy. They also carry Authentic BT21, Kakao, Pokemon and Line Products.
More information on Supermarket and Hypermart

2. Daiso
    Daiso? Daiso is also available in Singapore.
    Daiso in Korea has their own range of products that are not available in Daiso Singapore and Japan. At least is something available in Korea only.

The price range is definitely pocket friendly, ranging from 1000 - 5000 won.
The biggest Daiso in Korea are located at Myeongdong and Hongdik University.
They do tax refunds too.




3. Art Friend
Cheap stationery, Beauty Products, bags and the price are reasonable from 1000 won up. The branch at Myeongdong is big with a lot of places to take photos

More on Art friend

4. Beauty Products
 Korea is famous for their beauty product and it is much cheaper in Korea compared to Singapore. I will suggest Myeongdong if you need help with understanding the products as there are more staff who can speak Chinese and English. However, the staff at Myeongdong tend to more pushy. If you know what you are getting, can just walk to a random shop.  Most of the Myeongdong shops also provide direct cash refund if you spend more than 30 000. It is better to consolidate your spendings and enjoy the tax refunds. Beauty products also have special edition like Line bear package, Kakao package which make it more unique.
You can shop at Olive young, LOHBS, Lalavla which house a lot of brands.
Do avoid those shops with chinese signs and sells items at much cheaper price, there are some bad rumours about those shops. I mean it is not worth it to save a bit of money and put your skin at risk.

5.  KPOP
If you are buying for a younger generation, Kpop seems like a better gift.
The best place to buy will be at the basement of Myeongdong station, with a wide selection and reasonable price.
Just remember, albums are heavy. One album can weigh up to 0.5 to 1 kg so do not buy too much as they tend to make your luggage overweight.


The most important thing is when you are travelling, you spend more time  and moneyenjoying yourselves and buying things for yourself.

Seoul Free and EAsy : Art Friend Myeongdong

I was never a fan of Art Friend as I thought it is a place that sells expensive stationery.

I stepped into one recently. It is really a must go for me now. I will suggest the one at Myeongdong.  It is the biggest with a wide range of products, there are also a lot of photo spots.

To locate it, it is a few shops after SPAO and opposite adidas If you exit by Myeongdong station , just walk down and turn left at Nature REpbulic.

They sell a variety of items, including Stationery, heat packs, cute car perfume, bags, mini hair straightener, facial products and a lot more. 

It is a good place to grab not expensive souvenirs and stationery.

As someone who use a lot of stationery,  I find some of the stationery quality quite good.

Prices start from 1000 won. You can get a cute good quality sticky at around 1000 won. It can be more worth than Daiso. 

Remind to ask for your tax refund too.

SEOUL Free and EAsy : Tongin Market (통인시장)

The entrance for the market

Somewhere in the middle of the market. There is this place. Just go up to the second floor and get your container and exchange for coins.

There is a dining area at the second floor.

The food per serving cost around 2000-5000 won. 

A tray full of food will cost around 20 000 won.

It is not really that cheap for a meal here. 

The concept of using coins to pay is interesting.

The food can get a bit salty if you just order the side dishes. 

We did not order rice or noodles because it does not seems worth it.

There is a lot of Korean food to try. However, the most special item to me is the zhajiangmian rice cake. The taste was just normal.

Some tips:

Don't buy too much coins. 

Maybe you can plan first before purchasing the coins.

If you are going when the temperature is cooling or cold, do take note when ordering food. 

Some of the food are not keep warm on a stove and it does get quite cold and not really nice.

Seoul Free and easy : SEasons TAble Korean Buffet

AFter watching a Korean Variety Show of Koreans feasting on Korean food during a buffet.

I was determined to find a buffet to feast at Seoul. 

The location is accessible. I went to branch at Lotte Fitting which is Dongdaemun History and Cultural park subway station exit 11. 

It is quite reasonable especially for lunch on weekdays, it is around 15 000 won.

There is quite a large variety of food but is definitely not as much as those international buffet.

The menu changes as I went in June and November, the photos are a combination of both trips.

There are some menu changes.

For example, the DIY waffle machine is only seen during my November visit. 

The food was of good quality and fresh. The ambiance was quiet. It is a good place to chill and have a relaxing lunch. 

The negative point is that some of the food can get a bit cold as the food is not keep on a warmer. They serve hot soup and rice.

You can also order hot beef soup and noodles. 

The price list.

The spread ( include most of the food available)