By Lee Kyoung Mi

An incense pouch with the aroma of Korea's national flower mugunghwa (rose of Sharon); Hangeul dojang (personal seal stamps) decorated with dancheong (traditional decorative coloring) designs; taro cards with drawings of minhwa (traditional folk paintings); magnets that reinterpret the seal of King Gojong of the Korean Empire; and candle holders (warmer) featuring a Hanok (traditional house) design.

These travel souvenirs were displayed at one place to allow visitors to buy them to remember their trips to Korea.

The Souvenir Fair 2023, which was held from Nov. 24-25 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul's Jung-gu District, had about 100 businesses display and sell souvenirs such as processed food, handicrafts, daily supplies and stationery, and beauty products.

Lacking in typical things most consider buying when traveling to Korea such as gim (seaweed), facial masks and keychains, the event instead hawked new souvenirs often difficult for travelers to see. Such goods encapsulated Korea and caught the eyes of both locals and foreign visitors.

Yuna Matsue, a Japanese on a working holiday program in Korea, said, "I heard that the faces of traditional Korean goblins ward off evil." She smiled and showed the badge of one such face she purchased.

Another visitor was a Swiss woman who visited the country for the first time after living here for a short time four years ago.

"All the souvenirs are pretty and of high quality, so I wanted to buy so many of them," she said. 

Most of the souvenirs at the event were designed to help buyers remember their visits to Korea or give as gifts, being easily carriable on planes and portable.

Cosmogy CEO Park So-hyun also promoted her rice flower makgeolli (milky rice wine) kit, which won the grand prize at the fair.

"The product isn't just for giving as a souvenir but a meaningful item to be made together," she said. "I hope visitors share with their families and friends their positive memories of Korea after returning home."

km137426@korea.kr