Shopofkorea guides
A Small Greeting That Introduces Korea
Official product names are shown in Korean. Product pages are in Korean; prices are in South Korean won (KRW).
Introducing Korea doesn't require a large gift. Something you can write a short line of greeting on, something that doesn't take up much space in a bag, and something that remains like a small picture after it has been received. A postcard can be the lightest possible introduction to a culture.
A Greeting Delivered First by the Picture
The '민화엽서 9종세트' (Minhwa Postcard 9-Piece Set; minhwa refers to traditional Korean folk painting) contains different Korean paintings, including Irwol Obongdo (a painting of the sun, moon, and five peaks), Sipjangsaengdo (a painting of the ten symbols of longevity), and Hwajodo (a painting of flowers and birds). Even without explaining the meaning of every painting, subjects such as the sun and moon, mountains, cranes, flowers, and birds catch the eye first. The advantage of a postcard is that instead of attaching a long explanation in an unfamiliar language, you can offer a single picture together with a short sentence.
The National Museum of Korea describes minhwa as practical paintings closely connected to everyday life, and introduces various categories such as hwajodo, munjado (letter paintings), and sipjangsaengdo. For this reason, a minhwa postcard does not stop at being merely a miniature decorative reproduction of a museum painting. It can be seen as a way of placing a wish for well-being, gratitude, or peace of mind onto a single ordinary sheet of paper.
One Card at a Time, Depending on the Recipient
The fact that multiple cards come bundled together as a set makes choices possible that differ from giving them all to one person. You can write a word of thanks to a homestay family for the time spent together, a line to an overseas colleague remembering a first meeting, or a farewell to a friend leaving Korea with a wish to meet again.
You can also set aside the pressure of having to write a long explanation in English. A single short sentence — for example, "A small scene from Korea, with my thanks" — is enough. If you would like to add the name of the painting in Korean and English, it is safer to check the spelling first in the product description and in official museum materials.
A Size That Works Whether You Send It or Stand It Up
The product page states that each card measures 10.3 cm wide by 16.5 cm tall. In addition to its original purpose of being sent by post, you might also consider placing it in a small picture frame or on a card stand. However, actual postage rates and the specifications accepted for mailing vary depending on the destination country and the time of sending, so you should check postal service guidelines separately.
The reason the title "A Small Greeting That Introduces Korea" fits is not because of the price or the weight. It is because even when words fall short, the picture conveys the atmosphere of Korea first, and the single line written on it by hand leaves a memory between people.