Jongro Day Care Bazaar

Three Fridays ago, I attended the “Jongro Day Care Bazaar” held by the government-operated day care centers in the district of Jongro-gu in Seoul. Prices in Seoul are high, especially products for babies and kids. Even if you visit flea markets, they are still quite high considering that you’re buying used items. That is why I never really had any expectation about the bazaar. That was a big mistake! I didn’t bring cash with me except for the 3,000 won I gave my son so he could shop for his things. I usually don’t bring cash since I could almost always use my card – and I get reward points.

Mothers (and there were dads and grandparents too) came with their children. The venue on the third floor of a building at the Jongro District Office was full. Not only were used items on sale, even unused shoes and clothes were sold that time. The shoes in the photo above were sold at 1,000 won each. Clothes were sold at 500 won to 2,000 won. There were books and toys, too.
Aside from things for kids and babies, there were also items for the house like tea sets, slow cooker, clocks, toiletries. There was even binoculars -but no rifle scopes. I wanted to buy the unused slow cooker for 20,000 won but I didn’t have cash! I also wanted to get the Korean tea set. Next time!

At the grounds of the Jongro District Office, food were aplenty. We had two sticks of chicken barbecue for 1,000 won. My son and I shared a can of “shikhye” or malt drink from the vending machine. Since we didn’t have any more cash, we just went home. I hope that they will hold another bazaar and I’ll definitely bring cash with me.