Korea takes ordinary objects and makes them ridiculous, in the best way. Neither of these was on a shopping list, and both came home with us anyway.
Socks are the perfect example of Korea taking an everyday thing and making it fun. The designs, colours and small details are on another level, and people here wear them as part of an outfit rather than as basics. You see them everywhere, from plain pairs to full character prints, and walking out with only one pair takes real discipline.
Shin-chan merch in Korea is on another level. Figures, snacks, socks, AirPods cases, phone cases and endless small random finds, turning up in corner after corner until we gave in and got pulled into the whole Shin-chan world ourselves.
Budget for the big things in Seoul if you like, the small ones are what actually fill the suitcase.
More from this city in our Seoul story. There’s more from this trip on our YouTube channel, we film the real sights and sounds, no fluff. You’ll also find us on TikTok and Instagram.