How do I buy and sell used items in Korea?

Used goods market in Korea is huge and works mainly through apps. Here is a breakdown.

Danggeun Market (당근마켓, the carrot icon). The dominant local secondhand app. Works on geographic proximity, you see listings within a few km of your registered location. Great for furniture, appliances, baby items, clothes, and electronics. Communication is in Korean via in-app chat. Most transactions are cash or Korean bank transfer with in-person meetup. The app has a translation feature now but Korean still helps.

Bunjang (번개장터). Nationwide secondhand platform with shipping. Better for electronics, designer items, and collectibles that ship well. Has an escrow service (안전결제) for higher-value items. Cards accepted and English partial support.

Junggonara (중고나라). The oldest Korean used goods platform, originally a Naver Cafe. Mostly used for electronics, cars, and bigger ticket items. Both meetup and shipping. Has more scam risk so use Naver Pay safe purchase service.

For foreigners, here are some tips. Start with Danggeun for cheap furniture and household items when setting up an apartment. Set a translation app side by side with the chat. Cash on meetup is standard, count carefully and inspect items. For valuable items, ask for the original receipt or box. Avoid sellers asking for direct bank transfer without meetup for valuable goods.

For selling, take clear photos in daylight, write a short Korean title and description (Papago for translation), set a fair price (search the same item to gauge market price), and meet at well-lit public spots like subway exits or convenience stores.