10 budget-friendly gifts from Seoul
Ms. Cute, Ms. Hot, and Ms. Lonely bask in the store spotlight. (If you've personified them, you've already lost)Gift-giving doesn't have to be stressful, but unfortunately, it often is. No amount of hand-wringing and hair-tearing improves the situation; eventually you just end up getting mugs for everyone -- or worse, personalized mugs with your mug on it.
This year you can forego that masochistic ritual.
Look instead to the list below for 10 useful, alternative and affordable gift ideas for gifts that won't end up in the dustbin.
For the frequent flyer or the insomniac:
Who says you can’t look cute while you're asleep?
Not only are these hooting owl sleep masks adorable, they're practical as well. Whether you need help falling asleep while traveling or in your bedroom at home, this hooting owl sleep mask will help you every step of the way.
If you suffer from ornithophobia, there is a plethora of different animal themes to choose from.
Available for ₩4,000 each.
Main street Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시, 종로구, 인사동); Website
For the challenge seeker:
These miniature wooden puzzles are both unique and inexpensive and sold conveniently next to the sleep mask vendor.
Ranging from easy to extremely hard, there is a challenge for everyone.
The best part? They sell wooden versions of sudoku and mancala. If you can’t decide what games to gift, they offer sets of two or three and keychain puzzles. Ignite the inner child within with one of these classic and collectible presents.
Prices range between ₩10,000 to ₩40,000 (for the gift sets).
Main street Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시, 종로구, 인사동); Website
For the stressed:
Can’t afford to gift a spa day for that someone in your life who’s had an especially tense year?
Well then, the closest you’re going to get to an affordable spa treatment will be a set of these hand-carved massage balls. Reusable and amazingly effective, these “stress” balls will loosen up any kink or knot in your back as well as any other problem areas.
Just make sure to wear a shirt when using these on your back, or you might experience some discomfort.
Oh, and score a free massage from the vendor by asking for a demonstration.
Price for a set of two is ₩10,000.
Main street Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시, 종로구, 인사동); Website
For the avid collector:
Hahoe mask magnets would be a real conversation starter in your kitchen.
Rather than purchasing a ridiculously useless and gigantic life-sized mask, why not go for the small gift set with five different face magnets?
All of the traditional feel, none of that traditional bulky size.
Plus, who dislikes magnets? This gift is really foolproof for anyone who likes to collect cultural items from around the world.
Price: ₩7,000
Main street Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시, 종로구, 인사동); Website
For the product junkie:
In other words, for the friend who seems to have an army of atomizers, lotion tubes, and other makeup products lined up like chess pieces on her (or his) dresser. Don't be intimidated by their numbers -- if your friend already has that many, he (or she) can always use one more.
Choosing a perfume for a female friend can be impossibly difficult. Perfume is kind of a big deal. Some adore fruity scents; others complain that it reminds them of food. Some don't mind smelling a bit like food. Actually, most would prefer not to smell like food.
But in any case, that's the world of perfume. Serious. Expensive. Heady.
Perfumed mist is light, airy, and fun.
These adorably-packaged, handbag-sized canisters of perfumed mist from Etude House are now available in a limited "World Traveler" edition, and are available for a mere ₩13,000 each.
There are five different fragrances for five different countries. "Ms. Cutie" from Japan has a citrus scent, "Ms. Hot" from the United States has a fruity, tropical scent, "Ms. Lonely" from China has a vanilla scent, "Ms. Twinkle" from Spain has a sweet and fruity scent, and "Ms. Ever" from France has a floral scent.
Perfect for freshening up on the go, or on the way back home after a night out.
Etude House Myeongdong flagship store (multilingual assistance available); 31-7 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시, 중구, 명동2가 31-7); +82 2 753 3771; 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; www.etudehouse.com
Etude House's "Missing U" series of buttery, compact hand creams come in four different scents, and in four different kinds of containers.
Once again, the packaging itself is so over-the-top cute that the hand cream just seems like an afterthought.
You can pick between a highly stylized, pink dolphin housing a floral-scented hand cream, green tea-scented hand cream in a blue seal, a baby powder-scented hand cream in a penguin, or a peach-scented hand cream in a panda. Or you can gift all four in a set. The hand creams are small enough to fit in a fist, and don't fit too much.
Anyway, at only ₩4,500 each, they're certainly affordable.
Etude House Myeongdong flagship store (multilingual assistance available); 31-7 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시, 중구, 명동2가 31-7); +82 2 753 3771; 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; www.etudehouse.com
For the desert dwellers (or anyone wintering in Seoul):
These unobtrusive, portable humidifiers from Misty Eco are perfect for the technologically impaired friends who nonetheless desire -- and deserve -- to remain moisturized. All they need to do is pour water and wait as the "high-tech" filter blooms.
They are aesthetically pleasing as well, like odd plants in plastic cases -- a far cry from the huffing and puffing of the larger humidifiers.
Kosney in Myeongdong stocks these "Misty Oasis Plus" humidifiers, at ₩19,800, in three colors: green, pink, and "natural" -- by which they mean yellow.
B1, M Plaza, 31-1 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 명동2가 31-1 M플라자 B1); +82 2 727 3601, 2, 3; 10:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.; www.kosney.co.kr
For the germaphobe:
In Korea, it was once pretty common for pedestrians to roam the streets in cotton surgical masks. They're warm, they're soft, and they're sanitary: it's better than sneezing your flu germs on everyone. But these masks are one of those fashion items that simply hasn't caught on abroad -- and we don't wonder why. In black, you might fancy that you exude a sort of ninja vibe, but the plain white masks can look a bit too "ER" for everyday wear.
But with these boldly-patterned, pop arty "mouth masks" from Burn Street, you can be health conscious and fashionable, and for a mere ₩10,000.
Kosney in Myeongdong has a rack full of them; you can also order online at www.burnstreet.com.
B1, M Plaza, 31-1 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 명동2가 31-1 M플라자 B1); +82 2 727 3601, 2, 3; 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; www.kosney.co.kr
For the technophobic writer:
It may be a digital age, and Korea might just be in the lead, but paper isn't quite out yet. Especially not pretty paper like the covers of these Daiso notebooks.
Notebooks are useful, but they're also collectable, and whether your friend is an avid writer or a rabid hoarder, he or she (probably she, but tastes are unpredictable) will enjoy these light, compact notebooks with their vintage decoupage print design, currently available for ₩1,000 each.
Although Daiso, as Korea's premier 99-cent store, is usually renowned for its cheapness rather than star designer quality, with a little bit of hunting it's not difficult to find cute and affordable stationery.
M Plaza 31-1 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 명동2가 31-1번지 M프라자); +82 2 727 3450; 10:40 a.m.- 10 p.m.; www.daiso.co.kr
For everyone and his mother:
Commonly referred to as "sleeping socks," these thick and fluffy socks are practical because they're warm. But good gifts aren't just about practicality, or everyone would just buy toilet paper, because everyone ... needs toilet paper.
These socks are more than practical, they're desirable -- deliciously soft, like miniature pillows strapped to your soles.
The best part is, this gift works for anyone. Hating these socks would be like hating a soft, furry kitten. Except that socks don't have claws.
Sold in subway vendors and street stalls all over Seoul. If you're paying more than ₩2,000, you're paying too much. They all warm the same.
More on CNNGo: The Korean girlfriend gift guide
