People walk by a market in Myeong-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
At an Olive Young store in Central Seoul's Myeong-dong in central Seoul, tourists fill shopping baskets with protein shakes, kombucha mix and bags of chips while checking recommendations on social media.
Just a few subway stops away at Lotte Mart near Seoul Station, visitors browse snack aisles stocked with instant noodles, coffee mix and Korean sweets, adding products to their luggage before heading home.
“I’m definitely taking some different flavored chips home for my family and friends. Korea has so many interesting flavors. In Germany, we mostly have paprika-based flavors and here you can get any flavor that you want — like honey or cheese — and that’s amazing," said Nadja, a 34-year-old tourist from Germany.
Korean food has stopped being just something to eat during a trip. For many visitors, it has become one of the country's most popular types of souvenirs.
