[MyDaily = Reporter Han So-hee] Actress Choi Kang-hee joined a cardboard-collecting shift to report firsthand on the harsh realities she encountered.
On April 29, her YouTube channel 'I'm Also Choi Kang-hee' released a video titled "The Income of the Grandpa Who Collects Cardboard: The Profitable Scrap Is Something Else." In the video, Choi spends the day with an elderly man who earns a living by gathering cardboard on the street.
The man they met said he starts work at 3:30 a.m. He explained that stores finish late and that’s when cardboard appears; traffic is light then, so it’s relatively safe. By about 6:30 a.m., when the scrap yard opens, he said a day's earnings are roughly 3,000 KRW to 5,000 KRW (approximately $2.25–$3.75). He added that if he has time, he sometimes makes another round.
Choi immediately grabbed a handcart and joined the collection. Folding boxes and tying them with twine, she noted that repeatedly bending and straightening her back is physically taxing, a reminder of how grueling the work can be. The man shared a practical tip: remove the tape and flatten boxes before handing them in.
The low prices were striking. Cardboard sells for about 50 KRW per kilogram (approximately $0.04 per 2.2 lb), so even a cart full brings only about 3,000 KRW to 5,000 KRW (approximately $2.25–$3.75). Egg cartons fetch just a few hundred KRW (roughly $0.08–$0.38), yielding almost no profit. By contrast, used clothing goes for about 200 KRW per kilogram (about $0.15 per 2.2 lb), making it one of the relatively higher-value items.
They then took the collected cardboard and clothing to the scrap yard. A cart filled over the course of the day earned just over 2,000 KRW (about $1.50). Choi managed a smile and said, "We made money," but she couldn't hide her disappointment at how small the sum was.
The experience also highlighted safety concerns. When Choi expressed worry about navigating narrow alleys and streets with passing vehicles, the man said he wears a safety vest provided by the police station at night and tries to be careful.
Near the end of filming, the couple returned to the neighborhood with the man's wife to collect more cardboard. Choi handed them a bag and meal vouchers as a gesture of support.
Separately, Choi appeared on the YouTube channel 'Sebasi Talks' in 2024 and explained why she paused her acting career for three years. She said that after stepping away she couldn't find work in the field and took odd jobs, including washing dishes at restaurants and working as a household helper.
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