Beautiful Store ( ko, 아름다운가게) is a Korean

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

organization and charity shop. It was launched in 2002, following the model of the Oxfam shop, and now operates over 100 stores across Korea. The volunteer-run store collects donations of old or worn-out items like clothing, books, bags, kitchenware and appliances, and sells them to raise money for charity. Beautiful Store also helps small businesses in

developing countries A developing country is a sovereign state with a lesser developed industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. There is also no clear agreem ...

by importing their products for fair prices, so that they can achieve financial self-reliance using the profit generated in this process.

Activity

Beautiful Store collects donations of old or worn-out items and then sells these donated items to raise money for charity. The material for recycling is given to the social improvement movement. From the beginning, Beautiful Store has accepted donations which are used, such as clothing, books, bags, shoes, kitchenware and appliances. The store volunteers repair the items when needed and then they are distributed to the other stores. Beautiful Store operates a

flea market A flea market (or swap meet) is a type of street market that provides space for vendors to sell previously-owned (second-hand) goods. This type of market is often seasonal. However, in recent years there has been the development of 'formal' ...

to promote the culture of recycling, donation, and sharing. Instead of charging fees for the shop, Beautiful Store collects part of the sales profits as

donation A donation is a gift for charity, humanitarian aid, or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including money, alms, services, or goods such as clothing, toys, food, or vehicles. A donation may satisfy medical needs such as blo ...

. Beautiful Store helps small businesses from developing countries by importing their products for fair prices.

History

In October 2002, Beautiful Store became a nonprofit organization operating independently as a subsidiary of Beautiful Foundation and opened the first branch. The following year on January 18, the Samseongyo store opened near Hansung Univ Station, consisting solely of volunteers except for the secretary (manager) of the operation. The following year a brown bamboo pencil case donated by President

Roh Moo-hyun Roh Moo-hyun (; ; 1 September 1946 – 23 May 2009) was a South Korean politician and lawyer who served as the ninth president of South Korea between 2003 and 2008. Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for ...

, before becoming president, was auctioned and raised 100 million won. Roh and his wife also donated pottery to the store. On 18 April 2003, the Dongnimmun branch was opened, the third branch of Beautiful Store. The Ttukseom

, which is held by

Seoul Metropolitan Government The Seoul Metropolitan Government is a local government of Seoul, South Korea. The mayor is elected to a four-year term by the citizens of Seoul and is responsible for the administration of the city government. The Seoul Metropolitan Government d ...

and run by Beautiful Store, was opened on 27 March 2004; people can sell items in small quantities when they donate an item from their home. On June 9, 2008, it became an independent nonprofit corporation, Foundation Beautiful Store.

Activity

History

References

Further reading