Going to Traditional Markets, No, to Used Goods Markets for Holiday Gifts

Chuseok Gift Sets, Buy Cheaply Through Secondhand Transactions
Personal Transactions Illegal If 'Geongisik' Certification Mark Is Present

With the Chuseok holiday about two weeks away, 'holiday gift trading' is already active on secondhand trading platforms. This is because many people try to save costs by purchasing expensive gift sets through secondhand transactions. However, caution is needed as some items are illegal to trade between individuals.

On the 12th, various Chuseok gift sets were listed on secondhand trading platforms such as Danggeun Market. The types range from common gift sets like Spam and cooking oil to premium Korean beef, red ginseng, cosmetics, and clothing.

Secondhand trading of holiday gifts is gaining popularity. It is about 30-50% cheaper than buying from official stores, reducing the financial burden. Recently, more office workers have been selling holiday gifts received from their companies or clients on online platforms.

Various Chuseok gift sets posted on a secondhand trading platform [Image source=Danggeun Market]

A 30-year-old office worker A living in the Seoul metropolitan area, who purchased a gift set through secondhand trading, said, "It is common for a box to cost over 200,000 to 300,000 won at the regular price. Given my current financial situation, I could not afford it, so I got it through secondhand trading." He added, "The quality is no different from buying at an official store, and there are no defects, so I think it is reasonable."

Some people try to buy daily necessities cheaply on secondhand trading sites before and after the holidays. B, a 20-something office worker living alone in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, said, "Even just tuna cans, Spam, and socks are very useful for someone living alone." He added, "Around this time, many people list items cheaply on trading platforms, so I use them often."

'Gift secondhand trading' is becoming increasingly popular, but special caution is required as some products are considered illegal when traded between individuals.

For example, foods registered as health or functional foods cannot be traded between ordinary people. According to the Health Functional Foods Act, only health functional food sellers can sell health functional foods online.

Health Functional Food Certification Mark [Image Source=MFDS]

These sellers must have the relevant facilities and report their business to the head of the local government. Violating this and conducting illegal business can result in imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won. Even sharing without receiving money is considered a business activity.

Health functional foods differ from general foods. For example, even if products use the same red ginseng as an ingredient, red ginseng candy or red ginseng jelly are classified as general foods.

Health functional foods can be distinguished by the 'Health Functional Food Certification Mark' on the product packaging. If this mark is present, it is a health functional food; if not, it is a general food. Ordinary individuals should not sell foods with the certification mark through secondhand trading or other means unless they are authorized sellers.