Korean Job Discussion Forums

[who-rider9]

So Ive heard that Seoul has a black market, but I havent been able to find it. Of course Ive found the street markets that sell some good stuff, but Im looking for a place, or places that sell the big stuff like the electronics, 100% authentic clothing, ect. If anybody knows of any places that sell things like this let me know. Id greatly appreciate it as Ive been trying to locate these "underground/hidden" places for a while now.

[pkang0202]

I think black market is just stuff that gets off of the Army bases and into regular stores. Mostly things like food and toiletries.

Electronics, go to Yongsan. Don't expect any steals. Electronics are generally MORE expensive in Korea than wherever you are from. If you want authentic brand name clothing then you buy them from their respective stores. If its cheap and says "Brand X" then its most likely a knock-off.

[esetters21]

Haha! There is no "black market" so to say. There are places in and around that sell lots of foreign goods. If you find the elusive market, please foretell.

[Emark]

Yes, there are many black markets in Korea. Often, they are right out in the open! Koreans won't tell you about them, because they are not what you might say ... good. The black market that forigners have access to at it's most innocent levels is border-line thieft. At it's most disturbing levels involves lying, cheating, and stealing!

The best black market available is within the dealings of the mob, or Korean gangs. YES they do exist, it aint just some silly fantasy in the K-movies. Scratch my back and I scratch yours is the name of the game within that dark side. Sadly, once you are IN with the mob, you still havee to PAY membership dues and do their bidding even when you don't need to get your back scratched in return.

Enjoy.

[bassexpander]

The old "black markets" were generally alive because people purchased things cheaper on the US base at Youngsan, then sold them to Koreans.

These days, most of those stores aren't what they used to be. The US base is watching this closely. Now these little stores just buy their stuff at Costco, which carries a seletion of Western goods that you weren't able to find 8 years ago, and re-sell it for prices that are double what they should be. That newer Nigerian-run store in Itaewon, near the Tranny bars below hooker hill is a good example. So the "black market" stores really aren't special any more.

Korea, being the gouging backwards-assed trading nation that it is, gouges their own public for as much as 40% more on certain items. Not everything, just some things, to protect local interests and allow them to sell certain goods at prices we find crazy: beef, whiskey, many electronics goods, "real" gold jewelry, are just a few examples. Try to import something illegally, and get caught, and be prepared to pay a massive tax of as high as 40 to 60 percent on some goods.

Nowadays, a lot of this illegally imported stuff is sold on auction.co.kr and gmarket sites. The "black market" stores aren't really "black market" any more. They just have somei imported items you find it difficult to get if you don't know where to look.

[bassexpander]

Oh, in case you're curious. There's also another old "black market" store which was always called "The Red Door" in Itaewon. To find that, find Coffee Bean in Itaewon. Then face Gecko's Terrace. Walk down the street toward Family Mart. Keep going for another 100 to 150 meters or so. You'll pass a few money exchange places, and be heading towards some antique furniture shops. Soon, you'll come up to a small place that says Money Exchange, but isn't really a money exchange. The door of the place is outlined in red. That is "the red door." The actual door is not red. They sell some USA products in there. It's not very big.