Beyond tourist trinkets: A guide to K-heritage souvenirs (1)

Pensive Bodhisattva Miniatures are one of the biggest hits of MU:DS, the National Museum of Korea's cultural products line / Courtesy of MU:DS

As interest in Korean heritage grows both at home and abroad, so too does the market for heritage-inspired merchandise — souvenirs that move beyond generic trinkets and instead reinterpret cultural assets in contemporary, usable forms.

The most notable producer of these gift items is the National Museum of Korea, which has sold its official merchandise under the rebranded name MU:DS, a portmanteau of “museum” and “goods,” since 2022. These products aim to translate the value of traditional culture into creative, practical objects suited to modern life. One of the biggest hits is the miniature replicas of Pensive Bodhisattva statues Nos. 78 and 83, which gained unexpected popularity after appearing on BTS member RM’s social media. The items later expanded into limited editions, including one marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan, featuring Owen N. Denny’s Taegeukgi flag in the figure’s hand, alongside more playful variations incorporating the K-heart hand gesture or a thumbs up pose.

Beyond these viral successes, MU:DS offers an extensive range of products, some developed by the National Museum Foundation of Korea, others selected through annual design contests. The Korea Heritage Agency also introduced its own lines inspired by royal palaces and court culture, while independent brands continue to reinterpret traditional motifs in increasingly diverse and innovative ways.

Below, The Korea Times staff writers have selected a range of noteworthy K-heritage souvenirs that reflect how Korea’s past is being reimagined for today’s global audience.

Celadon-inspired pouches and keychains from the National Museum of Korea's official merchandise brand MU:DS / Courtesy of MU:DS

Celadon pouch

This celadon vase-shaped pouch reimagines Korea’s ceramic heritage as a stylish everyday item. The design draws direct inspiration from the “Melon-shaped Ewer with Peony and Lotus,” an inlaid celadon piece from the National Museum of Korea’s collection.

Produced during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), celadon is celebrated for its technical mastery, translucent jade-like glaze and refined elegance — qualities that continue to influence Korean aesthetics today.

Made with jacquard fabric and finished with a metal kiss lock clasp, the pouch has an elegant curved silhouette that reflects the sculptural tradition of Goryeo celadon, where vessels were shaped after motifs from nature and daily life, including animals, flowers and human figures.

The fabric pouch, along with an embroidered version, was part of the National Museum of Korea’s merchandise line that sold out within a week at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art’s gift shop in Washington, D.C., where it was featured alongside the traveling exhibition “Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared” in 2025. (Kim Se-jeong)

Wine stoppers inspired by the Joseon Dynasty court / Courtesy of MU:DS

Wine stopper

How about a piece of Korean tradition to go with your drink?

This wine stopper is crowned with finely detailed metal toppers inspired by the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) court, turning an everyday accessory into a small object of ceremony.

There are seven designs to choose from, drawing on motifs such as Goryeo celadon, Joseon blue-and-white porcelain, and the dragon and phoenix patterns that once embellished the ceremonial robes of Joseon kings and queens.

Even the packaging contains royal imagery. The stopper is presented atop the king’s throne, set against the “irworobongdo” — the iconic folding screen depicting the sun, moon and five jagged mountain peaks traditionally placed behind the seat of power in the palace’s main halls.

Though designed as a wine stopper, its rubber seal fits a wide range of glass bottles, from whiskey and other spirits to champagne, sparkling beverages and even oil bottles. (Park Han-sol)

"Silla’s Smile" sauce bowl set / Courtesy of MU:DS

Sauce bowl set

The “Smile of Silla” sauce bowl set takes inspiration from “sumaksae,” face-patterned roof tiles used during the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) in what is now southeastern Korea.

Historically, these tiles were placed along roof ridges and believed to protect buildings while bringing good fortune. According to historians, the facial features were shaped by hand rather than molded. The softly smiling expression, often associated with Buddhist ideals popular during that period, conveys warmth.

The design specifically references a well-known artifact commonly known as the “Smile of Silla.” Part of its appeal lies in its imperfection, as the original tile is fractured, with sections missing from the upper and lower right edges, lending it a sense of mystery. Excavated in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial period, the tile was once held by a Japanese collector before being returned to Korea in 1972.

Reimagined as porcelain tableware, each bowl is sized for soy sauce or other liquid condiments. When filled, a gentle smile emerges at the bottom of the bowl, formed by grooves on the surface, creating a moment of playful charm at the table. The bowls can also serve as decorative objects.

By reimagining this architectural motif as a tableware item, the sauce bowl set translates ancient symbolism into an object designed for everyday enjoyment. (Kim Se-jeong)

Soju glasses inspired by patterns found on royal robes / Courtesy of MU:DS

Soju glasses

In Korean dramas and films, a familiar green bottle seen on dining tables almost always holds soju, Korea’s most popular alcoholic beverage. For travelers looking to bring home a small piece of everyday Korean life, soju glasses are an easy, meaningful souvenir tied to everyday Korean dining culture. Many glasses now draw on traditional motifs and decorations to provide an extra touch of whimsy or elegance.

MU:DS’ Tipsy Scholar Color-Changing Soju Glass Set features three playful, heat-sensitive glasses inspired by the 18th century painting “Banquet of the Governor of Pyeongan Province,” attributed to the famed Joseon-era artist Kim Hong-do. Other designs from the National Museum of Korea’s store incorporate designs drawn from the ceremonial robes of Joseon kings, or the famed jade color and delicate patterns associated with Goryeo celadon.

Outside of museum gift shops, a variety of designs are also available at traditional markets and souvenir shops. They remain one of the most affordable souvenirs, with many glasses costing just a few thousand won each. (Ahn Seo-hyeon)

Mother-of-pearl magnets set / Courtesy of MU:DS

Mother-of-pearl lacquerware

From hand mirrors to business card holders, iridescent “najeonchilgi” lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl is enjoying a fresh wave of popularity. Once reserved for luxury furnishings, this centuries-old craft now adds a lustrous, intricate touch to everyday items, making traditional artistry accessible to modern audiences.

Najeonchilgi’s storied heritage dates back over 2,000 years. The handicraft originated in China, but Korean artisans quickly learned to combine it with lacquerware, a typical Korean craft, and use it to express their own designs. It was a luxury product during the Silla and Goryeo dynasties, but became more accessible to a wider range of people over time.

The National Museum of Korea’s official merchandise line offers a wide array of items featuring the craft, including a magnet set depicting cultural assets of Korea — a traditional-style portrait, a white porcelain moon jar and a celadon bottle with lotus vine patterns. Master artisan Lee Young-ok created the mother-of-pearl inlay for the magnets using materials that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Also available from the museum’s shop are hand mirrors, coasters and business card cases adorned with najeonchilgi.

For a more hands-on experience, shops like Jinjoo Shell in Bukchon Hanok Village offer one-hour najeonchilgi classes. Visitors can create their own unique souvenir and learn the trade directly from an artisan. (Inna Christine Cabel)

AirPods cases featuring traditional Korean art motifs, including patterns inspired by Goryeo-era celadon, left, and "hogeon," the traditional tiger-themed headgear for babies / Courtesy of MU:DS

For the tech lover

MU:DS offers a line of tech accessories that adapts traditional Korean imagery for modern use. For instance, its wireless earbud cases incorporate heritage patterns in a contemporary product.

Popular designs include cases inspired by Goryeo-era celadon patterns, admired for their jade-like glaze, as well as bold graphics drawn from “hogeon,” the tiger-themed headgear traditionally worn by young boys for celebratory occasions in the late Joseon era. The motifs are unmistakably Korean, yet the execution reflects a modern aesthetic.

While many products take inspiration from Korean heritage, what sets MU:DS apart is its use of museum-sourced imagery, making each design’s origin clear and verifiable, an important point for those seeking authenticity. At the same time, these are objects meant to be used, not stored away. Small enough to carry daily, they turn traditional imagery into something personal and practical — a piece of Korea’s heritage in your pocket, rather than on a display shelf. (Pyo Kyung-min)

A keyboard adorned with "dancheong" decorative elements and Hangeul calligraphy / Courtesy of MU:DS

Keyboard

Gone are the days when Korea’s tradition-inspired merchandise amounted to little more than souvenirs with limited designs and not much practicality. Today, a new generation of everyday objects is emerging, where usability meets unmistakably Korean aesthetics.

One such example is a keyboard adorned with the visual language of “dancheong” and Hangeul calligraphy. Each key becomes a miniature canvas where centuries of the Korean cultural heritage carry over into daily use.

“Dancheong” refers to the ornate, multicolored patterns painted onto wooden architecture using five core colors: red, blue, yellow, white and black. Its most iconic expression can be found beneath the sweeping eaves of Gyeongbok Palace. Those vibrant motifs from Buddhist temples now animate the keyboard’s special keys, including the space bar, shift and caps lock.

What makes this piece especially distinctive — and perhaps appealing to those learning or practicing Hangeul — is its approach to language. Everything is rendered in Korean script: numbers, arrow keys and commands alike. The Roman alphabet is only printed in tiny letters along the side of each key rather than on its face.

The typeface is inspired by the work of calligrapher Lee Chul-kyung (1914-89), a pivotal figure in the modern history of “gungche” (court-style script). Lee devoted her life to systematizing and formalizing a writing tradition that had survived largely through former Joseon court ladies and women of aristocratic households. By giving gungche a theoretical foundation, she helped ensure its continuity far beyond the palace walls. (Park Han-sol)

A cleaning cloth featuring "sansudo," or traditional Korean landscape painting / Courtesy of MU:DS

Microfiber cleaning cloth

Designed for cleaning glasses, camera lenses and smartphone screens, this microfiber cloth turns “sansudo,” or traditional Korean landscape painting, into an item for daily use.

The image featured on the cloth is a reproduction of the “Blue-and-Green Landscape Folding Screen,” believed to have been created between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The original, housed in the National Palace Museum of Korea, is now one of the most popular landscape templates, showcasing the serenity and harmony central to landscape art from the Joseon era.

Mountains, trees and coastal scenery are rendered with realism and subtle movement, while low-lying clouds add a sense of calm and mystery. More than a decorative motif, the imagery reflects the ideal balance found in nature.

MU:DS also offers variations featuring folk animal motifs and Silla-inspired designs, offering a range of culturally grounded options for travelers seeking both beauty and utility. (Kim Se-jeong)