Why Are Secondhand Items at Songpa-gu Reuse Center Popular in the Era of High Inflation?

Macheon-dong Upcycling Center, Popularity of Secondhand Products Leading Thrifty Consumption Amid High Inflation
Seo Gang-seok, District Mayor, "Promoting Reuse Culture to Activate Resource Circulation and Lead Environmental Protection"

Recently, the secondhand market has been heating up.

Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that as the unbearable high inflation continues, residents are flocking to the Songpa-gu Saehalyong Center during the moving season.

Jung, a resident of Munjeong-dong, said, “I needed a sofa for my new home and used the Saehalyong Center for the first time. It was more convenient and time-saving than buying through private transactions or companies,” adding, “New furniture is too expensive and burdensome, so I plan to visit again soon to buy secondhand home appliances.”

The ‘Songpa-gu Saehalyong Center’ is a resource circulation complex space that encompasses recycling and upcycling. It goes beyond the existing recycling centers that only sold secondhand goods by adding value to recycled items to sell upcycled products, and also operates repair and experiential education programs.

Although it is difficult to sell secondhand goods for profit through companies, reusable products, including large home appliances and furniture that are practically destined to be discarded, are reborn as new products through the Saehalyong Center.

In fact, since its opening in December 2021, the Songpa-gu Saehalyong Center has been collecting recyclable secondhand home appliances and furniture such as refrigerators, washing machines, and wardrobes free of charge, repairing and refurbishing them, and selling about 10,000 secondhand products annually to residents at affordable prices. Last year, 13,098 items were collected and 13,335 secondhand items were sold.

Kim, who runs a store in Macheon-dong, has used the Saehalyong Center five times to purchase large appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators. He explained that he frequently uses the center because he can buy cost-effective products at low prices. “I visited the Saehalyong Center because I needed chairs for my store. The prices are affordable, and the delivery service for purchased items is very satisfying.”

The products for sale consist of donated secondhand items and repaired products reborn as new. Furniture includes a total of 21 types, ranging from chairs priced in the 10,000 KRW range to wardrobes in the 100,000 KRW range, and a variety of upcycled items including 17 types of home appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners are available for purchase.

When moving or when it is a waste to just throw away unused home appliances or furniture, the Saehalyong Center offers a pickup service upon request. For more details, please contact the Songpa-gu Saehalyong Center by phone.

Additionally, the district operates an unmanned recycling collection machine in front of the Saehalyong Center. By inserting transparent PET bottles, which are frequently generated at homes and offices, into the collection machine, points can be accumulated, increasing the recycling rate and helping to prevent environmental pollution.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Recycling is essential for activating resource circulation and protecting the environment,” and added, “We hope that the reuse culture among residents will be revitalized through the Songpa-gu Saehalyong Center, including the sale of secondhand goods.”

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