Korean Job Discussion Forums

[opengirl]

Okay, I know there is a sticky about this in the Buy-Sell forum, but it is really out of date, and no one really looks at the stickys -- I asked a question there a while back and did not really get any answers... so I thought I'd ask here. I'm wondering about second hand furniture stores? I know the big one in itaewon, close to the military base, but it is super expensive. Does anyone one know any others?

Plus, I would love to find a "thrift store" that sells clothes, in "western sizes"... does anyone know of any? (I'm in Seoul, by the way)

[T-J]

http://www.rety.co.kr/m/jumpo.asp

This chain has a store in our neighborhood. Hope there's one near you.

[Smithington]

I was surprised by the lack of second-hand stores in Korea. Back home you can find some seriously cool stuff in them. Apparently Koreans are wary of things that have been pre-owned by others. Some nonsense about spirits and bad luck I believe.

[jvalmer]

[Harpeau]

[Smithington]

Here's a bit of advice, at least with regard to furniture. Just go behind any tall highrise building on the weekends and check out the 'recycling' area. I'm always amazed at the stuff Korean people throw out. Leather sofas, china cabinets, tables and chairs, etc. Back home we'd either have a yard sale to get rid of stuff, donate them to the Sally Ann, or sell them to a second-hand shop. Given the absense of used goods shops here, and a near total disregard for the needy (outside of their little bubble) they just toss what they don't want anymore. And some of it is great stuff.

Someone with a good business mind could collect all this stuff, open a 'second-hand goods' market and make a killing. Sure there are cultural barriers to be overcome but there are now two million foreigners in Korea, and lots of poor people (and students). Bribe a celebrity to wear used clothing in public to make it look cool. Koreans can (laughably, of course) call it the next stage of 'Korean cool'. Then bribe a Christian minister to state uncategorically that there is no biblical basis for believing that spirits possesss physical belongings. Get a hot Russian blond to model the clothes outside your store. Young Koreans are already wearing ripped jeans. The 'second hand clothing' revolution might be just around the corner.

[Stan Rogers]

You got it backwards. They don't believe spirits possess physical things. They believe formerly owned things can possess spirits.

Oh and that sofa that is in wonderful condition outside the apartment complex is there for a reason. Like maybe somebody died on it the night before.

[opengirl]

Thanks for the tips on stores ^_^. I will be checking these out for sure!