Bungae Jangter, Seoul to host youth flea market at Banpo Hangang Park

Secondhand marketplace platform Bungae Jangter announced Wednesday it will co-host a youth flea market with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The event runs Friday through Saturday at Dalbit Square in Banpo Hangang Park. It is an official program of the city's 2026 Seoul Youth Week and grew out of an MOU between the two organizations.

Seoul Youth Week is an annual event the city has held since 2021 to mark Youth Day, observed on the third Saturday of September each year under the Youth Basic Act and the Seoul Metropolitan Government Youth Basic Ordinance. Bungae Jangter chose the theme "Jopal Johal," a Korean shorthand for "sell what you loved to do what you love," with the aim of encouraging participants to reinvest their sales proceeds into new pursuits.

Sellers were recruited from Bungae Jangter users between the ages of 19 and 39, and 20 teams were selected from 112 applicants. The submissions fell into four themes: challenge, love, letting go and personal taste. Participants include a performing arts college startup club, a young person raising funds for a student exchange program in Japan, a couple preparing for a month-long trial living arrangement before marriage, and a model looking to clear a wardrobe of nearly 1,000 items. One applicant also submitted a story about donating the proceeds to charity.

All 20 selected teams will receive a booth and equipment free of charge, with no participation fee. The top seller will receive a 1 million won ($743) grant, and the first 10 teams to verify a successful sale will each receive 100,000 won.

Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite seller on-site. Payments will be processed through the Bungae Jangter app. Users who verify the app will receive a reusable shopping bag, and those who list a product on the app will receive 10 biodegradable delivery pouches.

"As secondhand trading among young people has evolved beyond saving money into a form of self-expression and sustainable consumption, we will work with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to expand programs that support youth tastes and ambitions," a Bungae Jangter official said.