Shopofkorea guides
Why We Chose a Gold Turtle Ship with a Nameplate as a Retirement Gift for Our Organization's President
Official product names are shown in Korean. Product pages are in Korean; prices are in South Korean won (KRW).
It had been several months since the president's term ended. At a small gathering of members, someone said, "We just handed over a bouquet and that was it. That's been nagging at me." Everyone nodded, and before I knew it, the task of choosing a gift had landed on me.
At first I thought it would be easy. I figured I'd just order a plaque of appreciation. But when I actually thought about it, plaques usually end up going straight into a cabinet, box and all. The president probably already had a few of those at home. What we wanted was something that would sit somewhere in the living room and catch the eye in passing. And at the same time, it had to clearly bear the name of our organization and the period during which he had served.
The Words I Typed into the Search Bar
I tried searching "retirement gift for organization president," "commemorative gift for former president," and "president's service commemorative plaque," one after another. Most of what came up was similar crystal trophies — slightly different shapes, but ultimately the same thing.
Then the phrase "gold turtle ship souvenir" caught my eye. The turtle ship is a symbol everyone knows, and it calls to mind the decisiveness and sense of responsibility that forged a path through crisis. The period during which the president served was quite a difficult time for our organization. Among those of us who got through that era together, the words "turtle ship" alone would need no further explanation.
The Things I Compared
I searched for turtle ships on Shop of Korea and spent a long time comparing options. At first, thinking something he could actually use might be better, I added the 명작 채화 필함과 명함함 - 운학도 (Masterwork Chaehwa Pen Case and Business Card Holder – Crane and Cloud, a pen case and business card holder made with mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer) to my cart. The crane and cloud motifs are said to represent longevity and good fortune, so it seemed like a fitting gift for an elder.
However, since it was a desk item, it felt a little lacking as a way to convey the meaning of "commemorating one's service." My inclination shifted toward something where the commemorative aspect would be more immediately apparent.
Even within the turtle ship options, there was deliberation. The 금거북선(특대 30G) (Gold Turtle Ship, Extra-Large 30G) was, as the name suggests, the largest grade, and its sense of weight and presence was unmistakable.
However, the opinion arose that it might be a bit much as a gift pooled together by members. If the recipient felt burdened by it, the gesture would lose its meaning. So the one we ultimately chose was the 금거북선大(18G) (Gold Turtle Ship, Large 18G). The hull, deck, and dragon's head are rendered in three dimensions through metalwork, with a gold finish and 18g of pure gold incorporated into it. A clear glass case and black stand are included, so there was no need to arrange a separate display stand.
The Nameplate Inscription — Shorter Than Expected
When placing the order, I wrote the nameplate inscription in the memo field. At first I wanted to write a long message of gratitude, but after revising it several times, I ended up keeping only the organization's name, the words "commemorating service," the president's title and name, and the period of service. That actually felt weightier.
I was informed that a designer's draft would arrive the afternoon of the day I placed the order. I approved it as soon as I saw it, and it shipped the following day. The delivery came quickly as well. For anyone who needs to time the arrival to a specific date, I found that the most important thing is not to delay approving the draft.
On the Living Room Table
I opened the box, checked the condition, and visited the president's home that same week. He was seated in the living room, so I carefully set the turtle ship down on the table. "It's late, but the members prepared this together."
The president was silent for a moment. He leaned forward slightly and slowly read the nameplate beneath the stand, then smiled and said, "You put all of this on here." I noticed him trace the dates with his finger, and knowing what that period had meant, I felt unexpectedly moved.
He then picked up the turtle ship, stood up, and placed it on the living room shelf. He didn't put it back in the box. That was exactly the scene I had hoped for from the beginning — not inside a cabinet, but somewhere visible every day.
Later, another member stopped by his home and told me, "It was right in the middle of the shelf." It was only then that the lingering regret over how things had ended with just a bouquet finally felt resolved.
If you're at a loss for what to give someone who has completed their term, I found that the answer becomes clearer when you start by thinking about what form you want to leave behind the time they spent in that role. For us, that turned out to be a turtle ship engraved with a name and the years of service.
This account is based on an actual purchase experience; individuals and the organization have been anonymized, and some scenes have been reconstructed.