[1mmGeumyungTalk] "Name is Price"... MZ Enthralled by 90s Nonghyup Bank Keyboard

German Keyboard Company Cherry MX-8000
Used for Financial Transactions at Bank Counters
Recently in Spotlight for Card Reader Attachment and More

Keyboards used by NongHyup Bank employees before the 2000s. This is the MX-8000 model manufactured by the German company Cherry. At the bottom, there is an "NH" mark that appears to have been written by a NongHyup Bank employee. Photo by Internet community archive.

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Among the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), a keyboard once used by NongHyup Bank employees is gaining attention. The keyboard has even been given a nickname, and some are willing to buy it regardless of the price. Although it is an outdated keyboard from decades ago, it features a convenient function called a 'card reader,' which has contributed to its popularity amid the retro trend.

According to the financial sector on the 17th, posts expressing a desire to purchase a specific old-fashioned keyboard have recently appeared on various internet communities and second-hand trading sites. This keyboard was used by NongHyup Bank employees at the counter for financial tasks before the 2000s.

It is a product manufactured by the German keyboard maker Cherry through an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) arrangement, with the official name MX-8000. LG was responsible for domestic production. The product has since been discontinued. Unlike regular keyboards, it has keys such as 'Deposit,' 'Withdrawal,' '(Cash) Closing,' and 'Received Amount' because it was designed for business use. A magnetic card reader is attached at the top.

This keyboard was widely used in all commercial banks but began to disappear after the pilot introduction of IC cards in the banking sector in 2003. At that time, the Bank of Korea's Financial Informatization Promotion Banking Subcommittee announced a business plan to switch from the magnetic stripe method, which was vulnerable in terms of security, to a chip-inserted card method.

Other commercial banks discarded all the keyboards they were using at that time, so there are virtually no units available on the market. However, NongHyup Bank reportedly stored a large quantity of these keyboards in a warehouse when replacing them. An anonymous dealer discovered this and started selling them on Auction from the mid-2010s, making them available for private purchase. The nickname 'Jooction' attached to the keyboard means 'mainly found on Auction.'

In the mid-2010s, the MX-8000 keyboard was only occasionally purchased by a niche group of collectors. However, demand has surged recently after it became known through YouTube and internet communities that the magnetic card reader can be conveniently used. In particular, Samsung Pay users, who use the same principle as magnetic cards, can easily log in or make online payments using the card reader attached to the keyboard.

As a result, prices have skyrocketed. While the keyboard could be purchased for 20,000 to 30,000 KRW when supply was available, even decades-old units are now approaching 100,000 KRW. Some buyers have even appeared who are willing to pay any price they ask. Due to the high popularity, it is reported that all second-hand stock has now been sold out.