Interesting items to get from Daiso in Korea

Recently I traveled to South Korea with my families. Just like in any other Asian countries, I love browsing Daiso, a shop that sells stuffs with affordable prices. I hope by now you have heard about Daiso.

"Daiso Industries Co., Ltd. is a large franchise of 100-yen shops founded in Japan. Its headquarters are in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. Daiso has a range of over 100,000 products, of which over 40 percent are imported goods, many of them from China." - Source: daisojapan.com

In Singapore, all items are sold at SGD $2 each. It makes buyer easy to just pick up everything that is available inside the store, all is marked at the same price. In Malaysia, each item costs RM 5.90, while in Indonesia, each item costs at slightly more expensive price at IDR 25,000 (equivalent to around SGD $2.50 each).

In Japan and Korea, however, each item does not cost the same. E.g. in Japan the item can be sold at JPY 100 and JPY 200 each depending on its value. In Korea, the price ranges from KRW 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 5,000. Since the prices are varied, there are definitely more items to choose from the store.

7-Storey high Daiso in Hongdae, Seoul - South Korea

So when I finally reached back to Seoul (after touring around Busan and Jeju island), I was all ready to shop for some gifts to bring back home. And just nice, there is one seven-storey height of Daiso located just opposite of the building where I stayed in Hongdae area.

Here, let me share with you some interesting items I bought from there, which I could not find at any other countries :).

1. Korean noodles cooking pot - KRW 3,000

Korean noodles cooking pot - Daiso Korea

If you are a Korean drama or movie lover, you must have seen the scene where the actor or actress was eating Korean noodle from this pot. They even use the cover as a plate or base after taking the steaming hot noodles directly from the pot. They will blow it before put it into the mouth just like the scene I post below :D

Eating Korean noodle scene (Source: Youtube.com)

There is the one with handle too. But I prefer the one without. So much looking like in drama. Hahahahaha.... :P

Pot types and sizes available from Daiso Korea - Lotte Mart in Seoul, South Korea

The size of the pot I chose is 16 inch (instead of 14 inch) as the Korean noodle size is generally much larger than the one sold in other Asian countries.

Sample of the Korean noodle (look at the noodle size!!!) - Lotte Mart, Seoul - South Korea

2. The Korean metal spoon and chopstick sets - KRW 3,000

Korean metal spoon and chopstick sets - Daiso Korea

If you notice, Korean use metal chopsticks to eat and not use the wood or bamboo material like in any other Asian countries. The chopsticks are flat too (not square or round shape). And the spoon holder is longer than the usual spoon used in any other countries. That makes them very special. And by getting this set, you will feel like you are eating in Korea rather than in your own country.

Personally I love using the spoon. With longer holder, I can even use it for cooking. Since the holder is longer, my hand will not get scalded by the steam that comes out while cooking. So if you are ever traveling with me and watching me cooking (provided that I bring my own utensils), you would realize that I always bring this Korean spoon with me. So have you realized it now??? :D

I do not really like using the chopsticks much though as they are flat and very difficult to use :D

This set of tableware can be a good set of gift for friends as well.

First day after coming back from Korea, immediately used the pot, metal spoon and chopsticks to cook and eat the Korean noodles :D :D :D

Therefore, by buying this pot and set of Korean spoon and chopsticks, you will not only get the items back with you, but also the dream of Korean life integrated into your life back home :D Hahahaha... at least for me :P

3. Roll cleaner - KRW 1,000 and its refill (2 rolls/pack) - KRW 2,000

Roll cleaner and Scotch-Brite refill - Daiso, Korea

I bought it as I sometimes need it to clean my black clothes (shirts or pants) from the remaining detergent that sticks to the clothes after washing it using the machine. The white powder is annoying and this roll cleaner will be the best solution to clean it without having to make the clothes wet and take time to get it dried. I can bring this for traveling too (that was why I bought this shape and size).

Roll cleaner type sold in Daiso Singapore (Pic source: Google.com)

And currently I could only find the roll cleaner type as per above photo in Daiso Singapore. So, if you too often encounter the stubborn detergent sticking to your black clothes, these items are great to get from Daiso Korea!!! :)

4. The sponge cum soap holder - KRW 1,000

Sponge cum soap holder - Daiso Korea

If you are still using the soap block to take a bath or to wash hands (instead of the bottle liquid soap, foam, or bath gel), this item will be a great thing to get back home. Just lay it flat (the set provide plastic base to hold the sponge below), and put the soap on top.

Usually, after washing hands, if you put into the normal soap holder, the water will drip and wet the soap holder. Therefore, the bottom part of the soap will get soft, soppy, and the holder will get messy and dirty. It can be irritating sometimes.

By using this, the watery soap will be absorbed by the sponge and you can use the sponge to take a bath (rub your body skin). Isn't it a good idea?? This way you can fully use the soap and keep the soap moisturized but not soppy.

5. Aroma perfume mist cum fabric spray - KRW 1,000

Aroma Perfume Mist cum Fabric Spray - Daiso Korea

While traveling in Korea, eating the Korean BBQ is a must (for non-vegetarian, of course). They have a very good marinated meat - be it spicy and non-spicy. Despite the restaurant provided the good vacuum system to suck the smoke that coming out from the grill, our clothes will definitely smelly after getting out from there.

That is why I could only find the above items in Korea (it was made in Korea too). It is called aroma perfume mist, but I used it as fabric spray too (to spray on clothes). This small tube (15ml volume) is very good to bring while traveling, and even can be put inside the hand carry bag. You can use it anytime you need it. They had many flavors available but no sample was given. So choose them at your own risk (in case the smell is not suitable to your liking).

6. Dental cooling spray - KRW 3,000

Dental Cooling Spray - Daiso Korea

This is another thing that they sell in Daiso shop there but not in any other countries - dental cooling spray. I thought of buying it since after eating the Korean BBQ (usually I would eat lots of raw garlic with the BBQ meat and caused my mouth full smell of garlic). They have 3 different flavors available and so far I only tried the middle one (mint flavor). This will be good to use in the morning too if you are too lazy or no time to brush your teeth :D

I first bought it at Olive Young shop at KRW 3,500. So in Daiso Korea, you can buy it at slightly cheaper price. If you buy more, then you will save more money. Good buy!!! :)

7. Moisturizer hand cream (made in Korea) - KRW 1,000

Moisturizer hand cream - Daiso Korea

There are many flavors available for the above hand creams. They come in two different sizes - 60 g and 80 g per bottle. You can buy depend on your purpose. If for short term traveling, the smaller size will be good to bring, but if for longer time traveling, the bigger size will suit you more. Despite the different in sizes, both come at same price - KRW 1,000. And all are made in Korea.

These are good gifts to friends back home too as you know, the cost of well known brand hand cream like L'Occitane, Body Shop, and many other brands can be so much exaggerating. For me, as long it works well and smell good, that is good enough :)

There are many other items you can buy there aside from what I posted above. Just like the description above said, they sell over 100,000 items in the store. Just buy what you need though, otherwise you will end up wasting your money for nothing. So, with this post, you can plan well next time what to buy when visiting Daiso in Korea :)