- What handmade souvenirs can you bring from North Korea?
- Souvenirs with a national character
- Health products and goods
For many years, Little Korea has been divided into northern and southern parts, and this division is not only geographic, but also political. At the moment, the territory is divided between two independent states, each of them follows its own path, which is why an abyss has formed between them, which is growing every day. If South Korea is considered one of the fastest growing states on the planet, then its neighbor from the north seems to be frozen in the Soviet past. In this article, we will try to answer the question of what to bring from North Korea.
The first thing I would like to note is that the range of souvenirs is limited, and there are not so many people willing to travel around the country of totalitarian socialism. On the other hand, the North Korean authorities clearly monitor the movement of each foreign guest, his behavior, purchases, etc. Shopping under control is a tricky thing, but good things can be found too.
What handmade souvenirs can you bring from North Korea?
Travelers who dare to cross the border of North Korea to get acquainted with the modern life of the country and its history, note that the main gift that can be brought from here is embroidery. In this difficult manual labor, local craftsmen managed to reach incredible heights. For the base, a plain silk is chosen, woven by hand or by machines. It is then manually embroidered stitch by stitch. The most popular embroidered souvenirs among foreign guests are the following:
- beautiful Korean landscapes that are not subject to any political or cultural influences;
- historical scenes and pictures from a past life;
- attributes and symbols of state power;
- portraits of politicians, representatives of the ruling party.
Here, every tourist has the right to choose the embroidery that he likes. But I would like to warn you that manual labor requires a lot of time and effort, and therefore the cost of such paintings is quite high. For many guests, such a souvenir is simply not affordable, so you have to limit yourself in desires, buying small napkins with a national pattern, instead of a picture that is grandiose both in design and in embodiment.
Souvenirs with a national character
In addition to skillful embroidery, which can take a year of work from a master, other souvenirs are also offered in North Korea. Some of them are based on ancient crafts that have existed in this territory for centuries, while others are the result of the current policy of the party and government. The first group of gifts, in turn, is divided into subgroups: traditional porcelain items; wood crafts; wooden pieces of furniture, interior design, household items, household utensils; stone carving.
In the art of stone carving, North Korean specialists also show a high class. Most often, wonderful stylized figurines of animals and birds, mythological creatures, the finest work of candlesticks, panels, figurines come out from under the hand of the master. The art of making porcelain products goes back many centuries, the roots can be found in neighboring China, but local craftsmen use their techniques and designs. The dishes amaze with their subtlety, elegance, delicate colors.
From modern souvenirs, a variety of printed products are offered - booklets, postcards, books, brochures with stories about the wonderful present of North Korea and the no less wonderful future of the country. You can often see portraits of political leaders and national heroes, replicated in souvenirs. Collectors pay special attention to commemorative coins depicting leaders; there are copper-nickel and more expensive - silver and gold coins (covered with precious metals) on sale.
The closer you get to the coast, the more often you can find maritime souvenirs on sale. The extraordinary seafood, dried and decorated by local craftsmen, will be a fond memory of your trip to North Korea. Products made using mother-of-pearl look very cute.
Health products and goods
North Korea cannot surprise with any delicacies; strong alcoholic drinks, for example, snake vodka, enjoy special attention of the guests. A characteristic feature of this alcohol is the presence of an alcoholized reptile at the bottom of a transparent glass container. It is clear that no one is going to taste such an exotic drink, but it looks amazing, especially as an extravagant souvenir for friends or colleagues.
Herbal, herbal and mushroom teas, on the contrary, will delight, especially representatives of the older generation. These are environmentally friendly products with undeniable health benefits, strengthening immunity and vitaminization. Another wonderful gift is ginseng root, called the "root of life".
