Yes, the Olympics are underway in Pyeongchang, and with all the feats of skill and speed and artistry on display in South Korea, now felt like an appropriate time to celebrate all of the delightful things that originated in the country. From miracle-working beauty products and addictive snacks to Ultra HD electronics and the world’s best dishwashing gloves. Welcome to Made in Korea week on the Strategist.
If you’ve followed any of the Strategist’s coverage, you know that we are superfans of Korean products. For starters, there are the beauty products (who could forget Rio Viera-Newton’s definitive Google doc?), but there’s also a selection of great kitchen items — from stainless-steel chopsticks to an indispensable pair of pink rubber gloves — that were too good not to share. And because chances are, if you can’t track a product down in your city’s version of K-Town, you can bet on Amazon to sell it, we went digging for the best — the most useful, most delightful — Korean items that Amazon has to offer.
Beauty, Korea’s billion-dollar industry, might be a good place to start with all things Korean. Here’s a gentle exfoliating brush in the shape of a jellyfish (because why not?) from the brand that gave us the blur primer.
If you’ve ever had the luxury of watching a raw egg cook on contact in a bubbling Korean broth, you’re probably already very familiar with Korea’s stone hot pots, which are excellent for making bibimbap and steaming hot soup.
Americans may favor metal, but there’s something a lot more fun about tossing around colorful geometric stones for jacks.
For New Yorkers who haven’t been blessed with a dishwasher in their apartment, these Korean gloves beloved by writer Rachel Khong will prevent your fingers from going prune-y when you’re hand-washing and allow you to withstand some scalding dishwater temps.
Who knew your summertime hydrangeas could yield such a sweet and fragrant tea?
A teatime cup-and-saucer set for two with a built-in infuser to enjoy your blooms, in Korean celadon — it would be a good alternative if you have an appetite for jadeite.
Milky, yummy candies for those with a sweet tooth. One reviewer describes them as, “if a marshmallow and a taffy had a baby.”
If you’re not cramped for space (and not color allergic), this tiered Korean-style shelving would be a nice way to display your art books.
Even the toughest nails are no match for these clippers made from high-quality Korean steel.
Where Japan has Sanrio, Korea has Kakao Friends, a lineup of adorable characters that prominently features this little orange lion without a mane (yes, he looks like a bear) who is simply named “Ryan.” Here’s a small trash can in his likeness.
A cooling-gel wrist rest that you can put in the freezer if you feel like you may be getting carpal tunnel from scrolling overload.
Get all of your stir-frying needs covered with this nonstick Teflon wok that’s lightweight enough that you shouldn’t have to flip up the pan with both hands.
Reviewers rave about these durable waffle-weave microfiber towels that make good cleaning cloths for cars or electronics.
These bar soaps for laundry, made from vegetable extracts, are gentle enough to use on your delicates.
A pan that will help you perfect your bulgogi barbecued beef.
We really couldn’t do a listing of Korean things without mentioning its briny cabbage delicacy kimchi, which can be delivered right to your doorstep.
And for the DIY types, here’s a smell-proof receptacle to ferment your own kimchi at home.
A serum coveted by K-beauty bloggers and die-hard skin-care fanatics alike.
Chocolate snacks recommended by chefs Douglas Kim and Brian Kim as “quintessential Korean snacks.”
Alison Freer uses these exfoliating bathing mitts to get her body Korean-spa-smooth, which she credits for helping scour pills and pills of dead skin off of her body.
A pink rice cooker from Korean cookware brand Cuckoo, which is considered one of the best brands out there for cook-ware, period.
Baseball caps are a staple of Korean streetwear; this one translates to “boss” or “president.”
An item you could file under “Things That Look Like Other Things” — here’s a face peel from Holika Holika that resembles an egg.
More Kakao Friends merchandise, this time a cuddly, plush Ryan the Lion that babies can snooze on.
A beautiful incense holder crafted from Korean celadon that would make a nice table centerpiece when not in use.
One of Strat’s perennial best sellers is this little pimple patch from Cosrx, which does wonders for the surprise whitehead overnight. It’s also one of Rio’s original Google doc staples, along with their snail-mucin essence and morning cleanser.
Because ramen’s a cooking staple way past your college years, here’s a fancier Shin Ramyun pack from Korean brand Nongshim.
And for eating them, stainless-steel chopsticks are worth the upgrade from disposable takeout options, as writer Maxine Builder tells us, because they can be used over and over again for kimchi or noodles or Korean barbecue.
You may have spotted our beauty writer Rio in one of these fleece headbands here, which she says are ideal for keeping your hair out of your face when you’re masking or showering.
Sweet and sour candies in nice purse-friendly quantities.
A flower card game called “Go, Stop” that features a deck with colorful printed designs on the back.
Stainless-steel rice bowls with a lid that form the perfect serving of rice.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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