Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mogikilla]

I can only eat out of my rice cooker so long! I need cheap dishes n kitchen utensils stat! Plus some furniture...

I have been trying to locate one of the fabled 'Beautiful Store/Shop' thrift stores but Information gives me hair salon numbers and I can't find squat on the internet. Any thrift store at all would be good. Or flea market. I've heard of one in... Hwanak?dong, but don't quite know how to find it. And I just heard that there are many second-hand stores in Hongdae but does anyone know where? People only seem to post moving sales when I am not moving....:p

Thank you!!!!!!!

[Blue Flower]

Koreans don't do second hand. at all. haven't you noticed all that gorgeous furniture left to rot on the side of the road?

Apparently theirs a flea market, somewhere in seoul. But I've never been to it. Have a look in the lonely planet guide to seoul, a new one just came out recently.

But seriously - how cheap are you? You can get dishes/cutlery pretty cheaply over here, you just need to know were to shop. Don't go buying it from Lotte, try Carrefoure, Emart, or something like that. You don't need a dinner set, just few plates, like one of each, should do ya.

[mogikilla]

i am very cheap. plus i am anti-toss-it-out-when-it's-not-shiny'n'new, i like to reuse stuff, so i guess there's an ecological benefit, too. i'm all for finding the goods on the side of the road, but that's even more random than moving-sale posts, so i can't count on it.

i did go looking for hwanghak-dong fleamarket today, but was told that it is gone because of the cheonggye stream restoration project. so it's back to thrift store hunting...

if anyone knows....i would LOVE to hear about it. before i give up and blow my money on shiny new crap that i will have to leave behind next year. ;D

[matthews_world]

I heard something about the Beautiful Store today on Arirang TV. The lady from Heart to Heart was interviewing the founder. Sorry, wasn't paying attention to locations but there are more than one in Seoul. They'll be expanding to Gwangju next.

I'd check it out but I'm not into second-hand stuff. If you've got stuff to you wanna get rid of, try selling it via their flea markets. Very popular.

[justagirl]

Just buy some plastic plates at lotte mart or E-mart. They have a section of "picnic" type things. We got a pack of 4 plates for 1 or 2,000 and some cheap plastic cups for less than 1,000. They aren't the disposable ones, either. I would think that would work pretty well.

We got our forks and spoons near Namdaemoon market from some guy selling them on the side of the road. Good price--500 won each? Or just use wooden chopsticks. They are bio-degradable.

Lotte mart also has a section of 1000-3000 won items. That's where I picked up all my kitchen utensils, come to think of it.

justagirl

[Squid]

I'll share this with you:

Take the subway to dongdaemun and take any exit. Find the pet stores running under the raised freeway for a bit and walk by them. At that point you'll be getting into Shindang, which most locals know as "Odi?".

Turn off the main drag into the sidestreets any weekend for hours of rummage, bicker, bargain and hopefully survival. I'ts a blast, and contains bits of old Korea the Itaewon polishers haven't yet got their grubby little robber baron paws on.

Now, don't you feel enriched?

[Mr. Pink]

Doesn't your neighbourhood have a market?

When I first came to Korea my neighbourhood had a market and I bought stuff there. It was crazy cheap too.

I second the notion of E-mart or Kim's Club for some really cheap stuff.

I don't think Korea needs thrift markets or flea markets, the usual markets are pretty darn cheap.

There is a HUGE market near Chamshil...if you like the adventure of finding stuff, go check it out.

(On a side note, kind of happy you are looking. I know a lot of foreigners who just steal what they need from restaurants )

[justagirl]

Thriftstores in Seoul:

www.beautifulstore.org

Argh. The English part is under construction. Sorry.

justagirl

[kylehawkins2000]

In Sadang Station there are two "dollar Store" type shops. I believe they both have cheap plates, pans, pots, knives, etc. One of the shops actually doesn't sell anything over 2000won.

If you need furniture the place to be is Sadang. the road that runs north (towards Isu/Chonshin University Station) has dozens of furniture shops and there are quite a few places with second hand stuff. You can get computer desks for less than 40 000, bedside tables for around 10-15 000, and large bookshelves for less than 20 000. THere are also lots of sofas, tables, chairs, etc. Not sure of the prices though....

You can bargain with most places.

[the_beaver]

[Squid]

Walk alongside the picturesque historic stream...

(I had my suspicions Beaver)

[hojucandy]

[Mr. Pink]

[hojucandy]

my memory totally fails me here - its either yang-jae or yeok-sam - there is a huge second hand parket there every saturday.... which one is it? it's just near the station. real trash and treasure - people just selling their old stuff mostly. i bought some good surgical gear there once!

[Arthur Fonzerelli]