How do I dispose of a suitcase and other large household waste in Busan?
I recently moved from a dormitory to a small apartment in Busan and need to throw away a broken suitcase and a chair. I am not sure whether I need to buy disposal stickers online or at a local office, and whether the rules are different by district.
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Treat the broken suitcase and chair as large household waste rather than leaving them with ordinary trash. In Busan, the application method, collection contractor, fee, and payment process are set by your gu or gun, so first identify the district in your street address and open that district office’s official large-waste page. Register each item with its type and size, confirm the collection date and place, and put it outside only as instructed. If you live in an apartment, also ask the management office where registered large waste must be placed.
The rules genuinely differ by district. Busanjin-gu currently accepts mobile, telephone, or internet applications through one of two contractors, depending on the neighborhood. Its official fee table lists carry-on and cargo suitcases separately and distinguishes fixed chairs from swivel chairs by size. Sasang-gu directs residents to its contractor by phone or website, and its official fee table has different suitcase and chair charges. Haeundae-gu has an online district-office application; the contractor calls to confirm collection, and payment is collected after the item is checked. This means you should not buy a generic sticker or copy another district’s fee before checking your own district’s page. If the listed item does not exactly match your suitcase or chair, contact the district’s waste department or designated contractor and ask which category and size apply.
Official sources: Busanjin-gu large-waste guide and fee table, https://www.busanjin.go.kr/index.busanjin?menuCd=DOM_000000105006002000 ; Sasang-gu large-waste guide and fee table, https://www.sasang.go.kr/index.sasang?menuCd=DOM_000000110002000000 ; Haeundae-gu online application and collection process, https://www.haeundae.go.kr/board/list.do?boardId=BBS_0000323&menuCd=DOM_000000102014007003 . Checked: 2026-08-07.