"Get Masks Instead of Money" Online Mask Barter Exchanges Continue

"Please Pay Costs with Masks, Not Money"
Expert: "Convenience and Fairness Between Traders Must Be Balanced"

Photo by Screenshot of secondhand goods trading site

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] "Offering items for exchange. Will trade for KF94 masks."

As concerns over the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) spread, the demand for masks is gradually increasing. Recently, cases of trading goods for masks have even appeared on online secondhand goods sites.

On the 7th, posts appeared on secondhand goods exchange platforms and local mom cafes, as well as secondhand goods trading sites, offering items for sale in exchange for masks instead of money. Conversely, there are also posts selling masks while requesting desired items.

On one secondhand goods trading site, a post selling blue light blocking glasses was uploaded. The seller expressed willingness to sell the item and requested, "Please pay with masks instead of money."

Another seller offered sneakers, stating, "Selling shoes for 30,000 won," but also said, "It's okay to exchange for masks instead of money." Additionally, on a mom cafe in Area A, a post appeared offering to exchange 10kg of rice for 20 KF94 masks.

Photo by B District Mom Cafe Capture

Conversely, there were cases where sellers posted mask sales while specifying desired items. A seller who posted "KF mask sale" on a mom cafe in Area B said, "I will exchange masks for 1L of milk."

Mask sellers who want to barter often do not specify prices and only request desired items.

Unlike regular transactions, secondhand trading allows buyers and sellers to negotiate prices, so the asking price can be flexible. Nevertheless, most of these mask sale posts are marked as "sold out."

A woman in her 20s, Ms. C, who uses secondhand trading sites, said, "Seeing posts wanting masks instead of money makes me realize how hard it is to get masks," and added, "I think consumers with extra masks exchanging them for goods is a form of transaction."

Another user, a man in his 20s, Mr. D, said, "It's somewhat suspicious when mask sale posts don't state prices and only list desired items for exchange," but added, "Still, if you need masks, you have no choice but to buy them reluctantly."

A notice of mask sold out is posted at a large supermarket in Seoul.
Photo by Yonhap News

The prevalence of mask bartering cases on online secondhand trading sites stems from the mask shortage phenomenon occurring both offline at convenience stores, pharmacies, marts, and online.

Recently, as the demand for masks increased due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, prices surged, and situations arose where people hoarded masks and resold them at higher prices.

In response, the government established a notice on the 5th to prohibit hoarding and stockpiling of masks and began enforcement actions.

Under the "Notice on Prohibition of Hoarding of Health Masks and Hand Sanitizers," producers and sellers who hoard health masks and hand sanitizers face imprisonment of up to two years or fines up to 50 million won.

The government formed a joint inspection team comprising the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Fair Trade Commission, National Tax Service, National Police Agency, Customs Service, and local governments to conduct on-site crackdowns.

Some large marts also decided to limit the purchase quantity per person due to the mask shortage.

On the 4th, Emart limited sales to 30 masks per person, Traders to one box (20?100 masks) per person, and Market Kurly limited purchases to four items per transaction.

Professor Lee Eun-hee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies said, "Mask bartering online can be seen as a new trading method where traders exchange desired goods," but added, "It is difficult to consider it a proper transaction when sellers insist on specific items in a situation with high mask demand."

She continued, "Buyers should not have to bear the additional burden of purchasing items desired by sellers just to obtain masks," advising, "For fair transactions, convenience between traders should be balanced equitably."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.