Seoul Airport Shopping: Best Buys Before Your Flight

Seoul's Incheon Airport offers a delightful selection of products for travellers seeking last-minute gifts or treats for themselves. From cosmetics to snacks, there is a range of options to choose from, including exclusive products unique to the airport. For those seeking gifts, there are farewell-themed cookies, health-enhancing ginseng, and traditional Korean snacks like butter cookies and honey butter almonds. For personal enjoyment, duty-free shopping offers a great opportunity to purchase cosmetics and seaweed snacks at affordable prices. With a mix of cost-effective and exclusive items, Incheon Airport is a great place to buy souvenirs and treats that encapsulate the essence of Korea.

Korean cosmetics

If you're looking for skincare products, Mediheal is a great option for sheet masks that target various skin concerns, such as hydration, brightening, and anti-aging. Innisfree is another popular Korean skincare brand known for its natural and organic ingredients, offering a wide range of products like toners, serums, and moisturizers.

COSRX is a brand that focuses on effective ingredients and simple formulas. They are particularly popular for their exfoliators and acne-fighting products, such as the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch.

Dr. Wonder is a brand that offers innovative, clinically-proven solutions for common skin concerns. Their product range includes spot treatments, serums, and moisturizers that address issues like acne, hyperpigmentation, and aging.

In addition to these brands, Korean cosmetics also boast very good reviews and offer a range of cheap options, making them a great choice for those looking for effective and affordable beauty products. Whether you're looking for skincare or makeup products, Seoul Airport offers a variety of options to choose from, ensuring you can find something that suits your specific needs and preferences.

Seaweed snacks

Seaweed is an indispensable ingredient in Korean cuisine and is often transformed into a tasty snack. There are many different types of seaweed used in Korean cooking, but the type most commonly used for snacks is called "gim" (also spelled "kim"). Gim is made from dried and roasted seaweed, which is then cut into small rectangles and served as a side dish or snack. It has a savoury flavour and can be wrapped around rice or meat to create "kimbap" (literally translated as "seaweed-rice").

When it comes to seaweed snacks, there are several options to choose from. One popular choice is "gimbugak", which is made by gluing several sheets of gim together with rice paste, battering and deep-frying it until it puffs up and becomes crunchy. It is a perfect drinking snack and can also be served as a side dish in restaurants. Another option is "matgim", or flavoured gim, which comes in a variety of flavours such as wasabi, teriyaki sauce, and buldak sauce. These can be eaten as a snack or wrapped around rice.

If you're looking for a more traditional flavour, try "jaerae gim", which is a finer and softer variety of gim that is commonly wrapped around rice. Or, if you want something with a fresh, herbal taste, go for "parae gim", a green laver that is usually mixed with other types of brown lavers.

For those with a sweet tooth, there are even dessert options made with seaweed, such as "danggims", a crispy roasted Korean seaweed snack that comes in a variety of sweet seasonings.

At Seoul Airport, you can find seaweed snacks at the "PACKAGED FOODS" section near the Transfer Desk in Terminal 1 and the "Sweets" section near Gate 250 in Terminal 2. So, whether you're looking for a savoury or sweet seaweed snack, be sure to stock up at Seoul Airport!

Honey butter almonds

HBAF's honey butter almonds are available at Incheon Airport, making them a convenient purchase for travellers. The almonds are sold in 11 and 22 flavour assortments, priced at $26 and $42, respectively. The 11-flavour assortment includes unique flavours such as spicy tteokbokki, while the 22-flavour assortment offers a more comprehensive taste of Korea.

If you're looking for a tasty treat or a gift that embodies the flavours of Korea, consider HBAF's honey butter almonds. With their unique flavours and convenient availability at Incheon Airport, they are a great option to indulge in or share with family and friends.

Korean red ginseng

There are three types of Korean ginseng available on the market: 'susam', which is ginseng in its natural form; 'baeksam', which is dried ginseng; and 'hongsam', which is ginseng that has been steamed and then dried. If you are unfamiliar with this traditional medicine, you can also buy products containing ginseng, such as tea, candy, and health supplements.

At Incheon Airport, CheongKwanJang offers a premium selection of ginseng products, including ginseng extract, honeyed ginseng slices, and ginseng tea. Prices range from 50g at $44, 100g at $80, to 240g at $179. You can find CheongKwanJang ginseng near Gate 25 on the 3rd floor of Terminal 1 and Gate 251 on the 3rd floor of Terminal 2.

It is worth noting that ginseng products at the airport are of high quality and often cheaper than those found in local stores, even for Korean residents. The airport also offers duty-free shopping, allowing you to enjoy a 10-20% discount on your purchases.

Traditional Korean confectionery

Yugwa is a type of hangwa made from glutinous rice that has been pounded, shaped into pieces, and fried in vegetable oil. It is then coated in honey, puffed rice, and sesame seeds. The result is a sweet, crispy, yet chewy treat. Yugwa can be enjoyed in a traditional setting at the hanok cafe Banjak Banjak Bitnaneun, located in Insadong.

Yumil-gwa is made by adding honey and rice wine to wheat flour dough, shaping it into small pieces, and then frying and coating it with honey. Yak-gwa is a famous type of yumil-gwa, similar to an old-fashioned doughnut in texture. Mini yumil-gwa is often sold in multipacks, making it a perfect souvenir.

Gangjeong is made from rice puffs and nuts, which are fried in syrup or honey, creating an energy bar-like snack. It sometimes includes sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and other ingredients. Gangjeong is a popular snack among all ages, offering a balance of sweetness and nutritious ingredients.

Dasik is a bite-sized treat made by kneading sesame seeds, chestnuts, rice, and other grains, and pressing them into a decorative mould known as dasikpan. The name translates to 'tea food', and it is often served alongside a cup of tea.

Jeonggwa is made by boiling sliced fruits, such as yuja and apricots, or roots like burdock and ginger, in honey and sugar water. This process results in a vividly coloured, crispy, and chewy confectionery. Jeonggwa is a great gift option, sure to make most people happy.

Gwapyeon is a jelly-like dessert made by boiling fruits and berries, such as apricots, quince, and magnolia berries, with starch and sugar. At THE EERANG TEA LOUNGE in Mapo-gu, you can find beautifully crafted gwapyeon with flavours like honey apple, complete with apple blossom petals.

Yeot is a hangwa made from malt, steamed rice, glutinous rice, millet, corn, and other grains. It is often made with peanuts and other nuts as well. Koreans believe that eating yeot before an exam will help the information 'stick' in your mind, so it is commonly given as a gift to students.

Tteok is a Korean rice cake made from rice and other grains. It is a staple food for festive occasions, such as holidays, birthdays, and weddings. There are many varieties of tteok, including songpyeon, which contains honey and sweet red beans, and injeolmi, coated with powdered soybeans.

Hodu-gwaja is a walnut-shaped cake made from wheat flour and pounded walnuts. It is filled with red bean paste and is a popular treat found at highway rest areas and specialty shops. Studio D’holic in Yeouido is famous for its hodu-gwaja.

In addition to these delicious traditional treats, you can also find modern twists on classic flavours, such as the Incheon 'Goodbye' Sand cookies, exclusively available at Incheon Airport. These butter cookies are inspired by traditional Korean sweets and filled with jocheong caramel, whole wheat, and macadamia nuts. They are an elegant gift, especially when served frozen, and they offer a unique way to say goodbye to your loved ones.

Frequently asked questions