Korean Gift Guide for Kids: Culture, Language, and Fun Toys
Looking for the perfect present? Korean cultural gifts can be fun, educational, and meaningful for kids, friends, and teachers. Since our children’s Korean heritage is important to our family, we’ve researched countless toys, music, books, language learning, and food gifts over the past decade.
I hope these Korean gift ideas help your family learn about the culture and language. Scroll through the options or click on the menu below.
Books | Korean Toys | Games | Music Gifts | Language | Foodie Culture
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Korean book gifts
Books are always at the top of my gift list for all ages. Representation matters, and what better way to show support than reading books by Korean authors?
Picture books about Korean Americans
Recommended age: 2 to 8 years.
We love discovering great picture books about Korean culture, plus stories written by Korean-American authors.
From reflections about Korean names, food, family, and holidays, these books are wonderfully important to read.
Related: Where to Buy Korean Books for Kids in the United States
Mindy Kim chapter books about Korean American life
Recommended age: 5 to 9 years.
The Mindy Kim series has relatable stories about an elementary school girl learning to fit into her new school. After her mom passes away, Mindy and her father move across the country to Florida to rebuild their life. Titles include:
- Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business
- Mindy Kim and the Birthday Puppy
- Mindy Kim, Class President
….and many more!
Bilingual Korean-English Reading Pen books
Recommended age: 1 to 6 years.
If you’re thinking about raising multilingual children, the Habbi Habbi books are a beautiful and convenient way to introduce Korean. These sturdy board books cover so many topics.
The best part is the soft yet durable reading wand that narrates in Korean and/or English. (I recommend turning off the English to encourage the minority language at home.)
Korean cultural bookmarks
Recommended age: 7 years to adult.
Save your spot in your favorite book with these gorgeous Korean bookmarks! These gifts are a small but special way to celebrate Korean culture. Include the bookmarks as a stocking stuffer or add it to a Korean book gift.
I got the hanbok 한복 dress bookmark for my daughter and the taegeuk 태극 fan bookmark for my son.
Korean toy gifts
Have fun exploring Korean culture through play! There are gift ideas for various ages and interests, from play food to dolls and LEGO sets.
Korean play food
Recommended age: 3 to 8 years.
My kids are obsessed with their Korean felt play food set from HeartFelt Makan! The details are incredible, including the tiny sesame seeds sewn into the tofu and heart-shaped sprout leaves.
These play food toys are a fun way to teach kids about our favorite Korean dishes: bibimbap 비빔밥, gimbap 김밥, and banchan 반찬.
My kids have a blast creating an Asian fusion restaurant scene with their beloved Chinese dim sum toys (reviewed here).
Explore: Fun Printable Pretend Play Food in English, Chinese, and Korean
East Asian American Girl doll
The Emerson doll could be a lovely addition if you’re an American Girl doll collector! Emerson is 14.5 inches tall and has a purple and pink ballerina unicorn outfit. She has lovely brown monolid eyes.
Although my children prefer stuffies over dolls, Emerson is a favorite of my daughter’s friends.
Korean doll
Recommended age: 3 years and up.
This gorgeous Korean doll was thoughtfully designed by Samantha Ong of JoeyDolls, an Asian Canadian mom on a mission to create diverse and authentic toys for children.
The Danbi Korean doll features a traditional hanbok 한복 (outfit) complete with a jokduri 족두리 (headpiece) and gomusin 고무신 (shoes). It’s at the top of my Korean gift list for friends’ and cousins’ kids.
Tayo the Little Bus 꼬마버스 타요
Recommended age: 3 to 7 years.
Kids who watch the Tayo 타요 Korean cartoon on Netflix might love having their little bus toys to zoom around the house! The Tayo store offers different sets, including parking garages. This gift idea is on my son’s Christmas wish list.
Recommended: Top 12 Korean Cartoons and Animated Shows for Children
BTS Dynamite LEGO toys
Recommended age: 10 years to adult.
Inspired by the Dynamite music video, this LEGO set is the perfect gift for fans of BTS Korean pop songs! The set includes 749 pieces and seven BTS mini-figures that can “dance” on the LEGO stage.
Gimbap dog toy
Pets can join in on the cultural fun, too! This play food gimbap 김밥 toy is plush on the outside and crinkly on the inside. Howlpot, a Seoul-based South Korean company, designed this pup-friendly toy.
Korean cultural game gifts
These traditional and modern games are a blast to play with friends and family.
Korean jacks game 공기
Recommended age: 5 years to adult.
This Korean jacks game gonggi 공기 was a fun little gift from my children’s Korean grandparents! It’s simple enough for kids to learn; you only need a flat surface, like a floor or table.
Start by scattering the jacks on a table. Then, toss one of the jacks into the air and quickly try to pick up another jack from the table before catching the thrown one. Repeat the process by trying to grab more jacks from the table without dropping the ones in your hand.
Yut Nori 윷놀이 game set
Recommended age: 5 years to adult.
Yut Nori 윷놀이 is a traditional Korean board game that blends strategy and luck. Throwing wooden sticks onto the game board is a big part of the fun. Besides being interactive, it’s a great way to teach kids about Korean history and culture.
BTS UNO card game
Recommended age: 7 years to adult.
UNO…with a K-pop twist! Each card features photos of the BTS stars. Like the classic UNO game, the goal is to match as many cards by color or number. The difference is the “Dancing Wild Card”; the next player must dance or draw three extra cards! It’s a fun gift for BTS fans, young and old.
Korean music gifts for kids
Music is one of the best ways to connect with culture and language. Here are the best Korean music gifts for kids.
Korean Folk Songs Book and CD
Recommended age: 2 to 6 years.
Korean songs are one of the most fun and natural ways to learn about the language and culture.
The Korean Folk Songs book is a sweet gift for families who play piano because it includes sheet music along with lyrics. We love the soothing CD, too!
Try this: How to Organize CDs and Make Them Accessible to Kids
Korean Nursery Rhymes music book
Recommended age: 2 to 6 years.
I Love to Sing in Korean Nursery Rhymes Book was recently published by Heritage Press, a Korean American mom-owned small business. Toddlers and kids can easily listen to fun nursery rhymes at the press of a button.
I wish this book existed when my children were younger! Based on the sample videos, the lovely native Korean vocals are paired with gentle instrumental music.
Yoto audio player
Recommended age: 3 to 12 years.
Modern technology is amazing, and the Yoto player can empower kids to enjoy Korean music independently. Upload the mp3 files of your favorite Korean children’s songs and nursery rhymes and create audio cards. Then, your child can take over the next steps!
K-pop t-shirt
Recommended age: 11 years to adult.
This fun t-shirt is great for K-pop-loving teens and grown-ups! It comes in women’s and men’s sizes in black, blue, purple, pink, and gray colors. I got the navy blue as a birthday gift for my friend’s teenager.
Korean hand drum
Recommended age: 5 to 12 years.
Kids can enjoy exploring rhythm and learning about culture with a traditional Korean drum. In Korea, the small drum is called sogo 소고, and it typically has the tri-colored taegeuk 태극 symbol in the center.
Related: DIY Korean Drum and Other Fun Lunar New Year Crafts
Korean music gift cards
For teens who love listening to K-pop or other music, a gift card is a great way to support their interests while giving them autonomy.
Korean language gifts
If you want to teach a second language at home, gifts with Hangul letters and Korean words can spark your child’s curiosity. Here are some of our favorites!
Recommended: Jump Start Guide to Teaching Kids Korean
Korean Hangul pillow
Recommended age: 2 years to adult.
We’ve had this cute, comfy rainbow Korean pillow for a whole decade! The zipper cover is machine-washable, and the rainbow alphabet design is so pretty. Our Hangul pillow has been in our child’s bedroom, but it would also be a cozy addition to a playroom or classroom.
If you don’t need a pillow, you can choose the Hangul design for a blanket, t-shirt, poster, coaster, and more!
Korean name necklace
If you have the budget to splurge, a bracelet or necklace is a gorgeous way to celebrate a Korean name. This 14-karat gold necklace is available at Kinn Studio, founded by Korean American Jennie Yoon.
Kinn Studio also offers custom name jewelry in Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Bengali. I ordered a Kinn necklace with my Chinese birth name for my birthday and love it so much! I need to space out my spending, but I hope to have bracelets with my children’s names in Korean someday!
Wood hangul blocks
Recommended age: 2 to 4 years.
The Uncle Goose language blocks were my children’s first Korean toys. Made of basswood in the United States, the blocks feature debossed Korean hangul letters, Korean animal names with English translations, and geometric designs.
Korean alphabet toys
Recommended age: 3 to 6 years.
Over the years, our kids have had a lot of fun learning the Korean alphabet with these colorful hangul toys.
Stick them on the fridge or a magnetic board, and explore fun activities with Hangul toys. This would make a fun gift for children learning Korean and Korean teachers.
Korean alphabet stickers
Recommended age: 3 years and up.
We love these adorable Hangul stickers from Katie Cadamatre, the Korean American mom and creator of Tigerboom Creative. It would make a fun stocking stuffer or bonus to another Korean cultural gift. The 24 Korean alphabet stickers come with mini coloring pages and a writing practice sheet.
Related: DIY Korean Alphabet Phonics Boxes
Wood Hangul tracing board
Recommended age: 3 to 6 years.
This Hangul board is another fun, hands-on way to learn the Korean alphabet! Trace the Korean letters with a finger or stick. Or fill them with playdough and small objects like pompoms or dried beans.
Korean foodie gifts
For teachers and relatives, we love giving cultural gifts related to Korean food! In addition to Korean pears and gift cards to Korean restaurants, here are other fun food gifts.
Korean foodie shirts
Recommended age: Newborn to adult.
This kimchi design is so fun! It comes in various colors and sizes, including baby bodysuits and toddler, youth, and adult t-shirts. I love that it features the word kimchi 김치 in Korean for language exposure.
Recommended age: 2 to 5 years.
Bibimbap lovers rejoice! This is such an adorable punny shirt that comes in toddler sizes. The AAPI small business that designed this shirt has other cute Asian foodie clothing options, too!
Korean chopsticks cutlery set
Recommended age: 8 years to adult.
In contrast to ivory or bamboo Chinese chopsticks, Korean chopsticks are typically metal and flat, like Western silverware.
We love this portable set that my daughter has been using for years. Note that dishwashing should be avoided to protect the design.
Korean cookbook gifts
Over the years, I’ve lost count of the Korean cookbooks sent from my mother-in-law! She always sends it with a few ingredients, like noodles, seaweed, or gojuchang.
Recommended age: 8 years to adult.
Korean Mother’s Easy Recipes is a wonderful cookbook gift kids can enjoy with their parents. The adorable drawings are helpful, showing each ingredient and step, including what shape to cut veggies/meat, how to coat certain ingredients in flour and eggs, and what the final dish should look like.
The family conversation bubbles woven between the recipes are fun, too! Many kids can relate to the child complaining about a spicy dish, but her wise grandma is ready to suggest a mild option.
Recommended age: 16 years and up.
Maangchi’s Big Book of Korean Cooking is a comprehensive guide to authentic everyday Korean dishes and special occasions.
From Korean barbecue to bibimbap, each recipe features stunning full-color photographs and step-by-step cooking techniques.
Recommended age: 16 years and up.
Korean Vegan Cookbook by home chef Joanne Lee Molinaro includes veganized Korean dishes intertwined with poignant stories of love, family, and identity.
In the cookbook, author Joanne shares the question she’s often asked: “How can you be vegan and Korean?” With this collection of fully plant-based, flavorful, and Korean recipes, Joanne proves that these two identities can coexist beautifully.
Which Korean cultural gifts are your favorite?
What are your favorite Korean cultural gifts for kids, teachers, and friends? Please share in the comments below. We’d love to hear your review.
These are great, thanks! I especially like the hangul pillow.
So happy to hear that the gift guide is helpful! The hangul pillow is my favorite, too :-).