Why buy spam sets for Seollal when you can buy soap or hot sauce?

Gift sets, ranging from tuna or shampoo to expensive fruits or cuts of meats, are a common sight in the lead-up to the Seollal, or Lunar New Year, holidays. The tradition of giving gifts on Seollal dates back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Hand-made soaps with Lunar New Year themes are available on local lifestyle platform Idus [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Gift sets, ranging from tuna or shampoo to expensive fruits or cuts of meats, are a common sight in the lead-up to the Seollal, or Lunar New Year, holidays. The tradition of giving gifts on Seollal dates back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, Dohwaseo, which was a government office that managed paintings during the period, gave the king a painting that served as a sort of talisman, wishing him a long and prosperous life. This custom was carried down to the rest of the people as well who shared gifts with neighbors and family to wish them a happy new year.

For those looking to give something a little more fun and special than the typical spam set, here are some creative last-minute gift ideas.

Shinsegae Department Store is offering a Lunar New Year gift box with various dog treats and vitamins, targeting the increasing number of pet owners in Korea. One in four locals has pets, according to a report by KB Financial Group in 2021.

The department store collaborated with famous online pet shops such as Pet Pharmacy, Bio Pets and Bite Me. Its gift package in collaboration with pet product store “Bite Me” is comprised of a stuffed rabbit toy, two types of treats and a pack of dental gum. It costs 31,900 won ($26).

Shinsegae Department Store collaborated with online pet shop "Bite Me" for this year Seolall gift pack [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Local convenience store CU is offering more environmentally friendly gift options for Seollal.

Presents during this holiday tend to be wrapped in elaborate cloth and excessive paper packaging. But with heightened awareness about the environment, more consumers are opting for gift packages with minimal embellishments. CU has nine different Seollal gift sets including fruits, seafood and canned goods that use simple packaging. They are available for purchase on the CU Pocket app.

A fruit set with minimal packaging sold at local convenience store CU [CU]

Bistecca, a bonafide Italian restaurant in Jung District, central Seoul, is offering a tiramisu gift set. Tiramisu is Bistecca’s signature dessert made from coffee that is roasted and brewed in-house. A set featuring three 100-gram tiramisus is 27,000 won and is available on Market Kurly.

Tiramisu gift set from Italian restaurant Bistecca in Yongsan District, central Seoul [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Some small local businesses are also offering their own unique gift sets to share with family and friends.

On the local lifestyle platform Idus, Lunar-New-Year-themed hand soaps rank in the top 10 most popular Seollal gifts. Hand-crafted by small local business owners using natural pigments, these soaps are delicately shaped as iconic Seollal items such as hanbok (traditional Korean dress) and bokjumeoni (fortune pouch).

Hand-made soaps with Lunar New Year themes are available on local lifestyle platform Idus [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Morococo Café is a casual Moroccan restaurant in Yongsan District, central Seoul, that is offering Lunar New Year gift packages featuring Moroccan staples: marinated olives, preserved lemons and harissa hot sauce. The set is priced at 35,000 won and is available for pickup from the store.

“We wanted to give our customers a chance to cook Moroccan food in the comfort of their homes,” said owner Wahid Naciri, 38. “[With the gift set] people can make traditional Moroccan dishes or add a Moroccan touch to their everyday meals.”

Morococo Café in Yongsan District, central Seoul is offering Lunar New Year gift packages featuring Moroccan staples: marinated olives, preserved lemons and harissa hot sauce. [MOROCOCO CAFE]

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]