(Must-Do in Busan)Souvenirs You Can Buy at Gukje Market
One of the must-visit tourist spots in Busan is Gukje Market (국제시장).
This traditional market is popular not only with locals but also with tourists, offering a place to shop and enjoy street food while experiencing the unique atmosphere of Korea.
In this article, we introduce 10 souvenirs from Gukje Market that are highly recommended for Japanese visitors and that we personally found worthwhile.
These items are perfect as memories of your Busan trip, or as gifts for yourself or others!
Korean Traditional Tea (Herbal Tea)
Korean traditional tea leaves or tea bags come in cute packaging, making them perfect souvenirs.
Varieties like yuzu tea, omija tea, and ginseng tea are hard to find in Japan.
Especially in winter, they warm the body, making them popular gifts for health-conscious people.
🛍 Price Range: 5,000–10,000 KRW
📍 Recommended Store: Tea specialty shops like “Jeongmyeong Sanghoe”
Korean Seaweed Sets
No Korean trip souvenir is complete without kim!
At Gukje Market, you can find single packs, sets, seasoned or plain seaweed.
Light, compact, and reasonably priced — perfect for sharing with coworkers or classmates.
🛍 Price Range: ~5,000 KRW (set of 10 packs)
📍 Recommended Store: Korean seaweed specialty stores in the grocery section
Character Socks (Cute Korean Socks)
Cute socks are a famous specialty in Korean markets!
Various designs include popular characters, animals, or simple patterns.
Starting from 1,000 KRW per pair, buying multiple pairs is a must. Perfect for friends or family.
🛍 Price Range: 1,000 KRW per pair / some stores sell 5 pairs for 3,000 KRW
📍 Recommended Store: Street stalls in the clothing area
Hidden Gems of Korean Cosmetics
Gukje Market offers outlet items from major brands and affordable local cosmetic brands.
Face packs, lip tints, eyeshadows — essential Korean makeup items can be purchased cheaply.
Many stores have “3+1” or “1+1” deals, encouraging bulk purchases.
🛍 Price Range: Face pack 1,000 KRW each
📍 Recommended Store: Look for shops with “Cosmetics” signs
Handmade Accessories
Buy unique and cute handmade earrings, bracelets, and rings at market prices.
Korean-style designs or traditional patterns suitable for hanbok are especially popular.
🛍 Price Range: 5,000–15,000 KRW
📍 Recommended Store: Small accessory booths along the streets
Korean Traditional Crafts (Fans, Bojagi, etc.)
Traditional crafts like fans or bojagi (Korean wrapping cloth) make great interior decoration items.
Subtle colors and embroidered designs make them suitable gifts for older people.
🛍 Price Range: Fans 5,000 KRW+, Bojagi 10,000 KRW+
📍 Recommended Store: Traditional goods section
Kimchi-Flavored Snacks & Dried Seafood
Snacks like kimchi-flavored chips, tteokbokki snacks, dried squid or octopus are hard to find in Japan.
Addictive flavors often receive good reviews from Japanese visitors.
🛍 Price Range: 2,000–5,000 KRW
📍 Recommended Store: Food stalls or road shops
Hangul T-Shirts & Eco Bags
Take home a unique “Hangul print” T-shirt or tote bag as a Korean travel souvenir.
Designs with phrases like “I love you” or “Busan” are popular.
🛍 Price Range: T-shirt ~10,000 KRW
📍 Recommended Store: Clothing and miscellaneous goods shops
K-Drama & K-POP Goods
Merchandise from idols like BTS or BLACKPINK is widely available.
Both official and unofficial items such as photo books, posters, and keychains are offered.
🛍 Price Example: Keychains from 3,000 KRW, Photo sets from 5,000 KRW
📍 Recommended Store: K-POP specialty booths or CD shops
Korean Tableware & Chopstick Sets
Korean spoon and chopstick sets, earthenware pots, and trays are practical and popular in Japan.
Slightly heavy, but perfect for recreating Korean dishes at home.
🛍 Price Example: Chopstick sets 1,000–3,000 KRW, Earthenware pots 5,000 KRW+
📍 Recommended Store: Household goods and kitchenware shops
Tips to Know Before Visiting Gukje Market
- Opening Hours: Generally 10:00–19:00 (may vary by store)
- Regular Holidays: Many shops are closed on Mondays
- Cash Requirement: While many stores accept cards, having cash makes shopping smoother
- Bargaining: At street stalls or individually-run shops, haggling may be possible
How to Get There
Gukje Market is located in Nampo-dong, the heart of Busan.
🚇 Take Subway Line 1 to Jagalchi Station, Exit 7 — about a 5-minute walk.
Summary
Busan’s Gukje Market is a place where you can shop while experiencing local Korean culture and the warmth of the people.
All the items introduced are practical souvenirs you can bring back to Japan.
Be sure to find at least one item that truly catches your eye!
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