Korean Job Discussion Forums

[essexboy]

In the space of 6 months i have found 2 sofas, countless tables (solid wood mind, not cheap Ikea crap), a wardrobe, hatstands and a dozen or so chairs.
I have got some of this stuff in my apartment now, and it doesn't look to shabby either!

But i live on a street of about 30 apartments, and the ratio of people-furniture disposal is insane! How do they afford it? Is minimalism suddenly taking over Korean houses?

[stumptown]

No, I think when they move out of a place, TV/electronics notwithstanding, they throw everything away and buy all new stuff when they move in to the new place. Odd, huh? I've furnished different pads with used stuff entirely. I got a decent couch once and paid a guy 75,000 to come steam clean it and it was good as new.

[kat2]

Our hogwon made us move apts midcontrat once. When we did, they left the prefectly good washing machine, fridge, and wardrobe on teh curb. There were new ones in the apartment. Go figure.

[jlb]

Why do they throw it out? Because in Korea, image is everything, much more so than back home in Canada. Have a piece of crap car or junk in your apartment-the shame would never end!

[jaganath69]

Its the Korean equivalent of keeping up with the Joneses (Kims?) in that people in an apartment complex judge others by the contents of their flat. We do it, they do too.

[Novernae]

Although they throw a lot of stuff out, it is acceptable to dumpster dive here (kind of like 'big-garbage day' for university students back home). I've seen people come out of the Samsung building across the street (very posh place) and look at a couch that somebody else has thrown out. They leave a guard, enlist some friends and exchange their own couch. This sometimes happens a few times throughout the day, each person upgrading on the previous person's upgrade.

[Qinella]

[Privateer]

[JJK1]

I'm pretty sure this happens in apartment complexes all across the world...