Korean Job Discussion Forums

[itiswhatitis]

In the next 1-2 months I will be saying good bye to Korea.

I've got some things in my home to sell and some that I would have a hard time giving away.

Anyway.....does anyone know around how much money I'm looking at to have a couch and a few other items taken to the dump?

Thanks in advance.

[Troglodyte]

I think that it varies a lot based on the city and neighborhood you're in. You should ask the landlord. If you're in an apartment building, then he'll know for sure because lots of other people would have done it in the past. In some apartment complexes, you might even pay nothing. There are also companies that collect old furniture and refurbish it for sale abroad. Even if the upholstery is worn out they might still take it. Again, your landlord might know about that. Or ask a Korean friend to search for it online.

Anyway, the way it works is usually not that you call someone to take it away. You simply pay a tax at the local Gu office or town hall and you get a sticker to put on the large object that you're tossing. The guys in the garbage truck will see the sticker and know that you've paid your fee and they'll just collect it with the rest of the garbage. Unless your area has specialized garbage for furniture in which case the specialized garbage men will take it (on a designated day of the week/month).

Or if there's a large apartment complex nearby where they often throw out furniture, then just buy your buddies some pizza and beer and ask them to help you carry the old sofa down the road to drop it off at there. (Do that in the middle of the night though.)

[schwa]

As above, its variable. But expect to pay about w20000 to get rid of a sofa & manwon for smaller pieces of furniture.

Some communities (mine for instance) require you to arrange a time with the local govt office, have your stuff ready at the curb, meet the pickup guys, & pay them the cash.

[radish kimchi]

Nobody in your apartment complex wants it?

[Lucas]

[edwardcatflap]

Last time I moved I didn't pay for anything to be taken away. I just took it outside and it all went within a few hours. One item of furniture disappeared in the time it took us to go back into the flat and bring down the next piece. Mind you it was a pretty scummy neighbourhood.

[tob55]

If you want to have things taken away that you don't want to just throw in the dumpster, just go down to your local govt. office and they will issue you stickers to put on your large things that need to be picked up. It varies by size, and depending on your neighborhood, you may find putting them out on the street for a first come, first serve basis to be the best option if you don't want to pay. However, there are actually laws for putting things out, so be sure you don't get caught by some well-meaning neighbor who sees you put your things out and calls the authorities on you.

The nicer neighborhoods with fancier apartment complexes is where most the used store merchants pick up a larger percentage of the items they resell to the general public. They have big trucks going around, looking for good things to pick up.