Songdo flea market promotes culture of sharing

By Kim Jae-won

INCHEON _ It took nearly two hours from Seoul to reach Canal Walk, a venue for the charity event Good Market in Songdo, a newly built business district of the port city of Incheon. But it took just a few minutes to pick up the dynamic energy from traders at the flea market, where all proceedings were to be donated to charity.

The event was hosted by Songdo International Business District and its two developers, Gale International and POSCO Engineering and Construction, and saw participation from more than 200 sellers, both as groups and individuals, who displayed their items alongside an artificial canal flowing through the business zone. A wide range of items were sold from clothes, shoes, and kitchenware to books and golf clubs.

“It’s fun to communicate with others by selling my stuff,” said Kim Li-la, a local resident, who was running a booth in the flea market with her younger sister. “It’s better to sell my belongings than just have them collect dust.’’

Kim wished that the market could spread a culture of sharing in Korea saying the nation lags behind other advanced countries, such as Britain and Japan, which have famous flea markets operated for charity purposes.

She brought books, pins, and other items and priced them at either 1,000 won (92 cents) or 500 won. Bestselling writer Gong Ji-young’s 2005 book titled “Maundy Thursday (Our Happy Time)” was 1,000 won, one sixth of its original price.

Yoo Kwang-yong, another Incheon resident, said that he will donate all of money he earned at the market to the Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI), a local bureau of the Phoenix-based international Christian non-government organization Food for the Hungry.

“I have made about 50,000 won. I will donate all of it except lunch expenses,” said the 59-year-old man.

Yoo brought music CDs, clothes and some books. Among his items, a CD titled “Voices 8” drew the biggest attention. The collection of 19 singers, which include tenor Luciano Pavarotti, soprano Renee Fleming and singer-songwriter Charlotte Church, was just 1,000 won.

“I’m glad that starving children could have some food with my little donation,” he said with a smile.

Public auction

At the center of the market, a public auction was held, which made various valuables and antiques available to the public. A Montblanc ball-point pen worth 450,000 won ($415), donated by Gale International Korea CEO Lim Yong-bin, fetched from 180,000 won at the auction. Two T-shirts signed by famous comedian and TV show host Kang Ho-dong fetched far less and went to a father who offered 25,000 won.

Incheon Mayor Song Young-gil donated a bamboo fan, decorated with a picture of a wedding ceremony of King Youngjo and Queen Jeongsoon of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).

Former national football team coach and Incheon United manager Huh Jung-moo auctioned a signed pair of football boots and ball, which fetched 170,000 won.

Stan Gale, head of New Songdo International City Development (NSIC), one of the organizers of the event, donated all profits from the market, 5.7 million won, to the Incheon office of the KFHI.

For some young people, like the college student who brought her high school friends along, the flea market was a fun way to spend the weekend.

“I brought my dad’s two golf lesson DVDs. He has a single figure handicap and credits the lessons. I bet you will follow in my father’s footsteps if you buy them,” she said, pitching the DVDs for just 5,000 won.

In the evening, a concert titled “Sunset” was held, where a number of famous musicians, such as pop and ballad singer Baek Ji-young, K-pop singer Kim Tae-woo, and Korean girl group Dal Shabet, hit the stage. About 6,000 enjoyed the concert for free with the backdrop of a beautiful sunset over the port city.

Lee Chang-won, an official from Meta Communications, a PR agency for Gale International Korea, showed his gratitude for the sellers and buyers at the market, and urged people who missed the event to attend the next one.

“We are happy to see many people enjoy the event. We plan to open the market next month and in October. I hope many people will have fun with us.”