Kimchi Refrigerator: Free Home Pickup for One Unit

You can request free home pickup of discarded appliances even if you have just 1 kimchi refrigerator. Fixed appliances must be detached before pickup. Have your address and contact details ready, then make a reservation through the official website or by calling 1599-0903. No separate application deadline is listed.

The quantity and operating-hour requirements come from the undated User Guide on the E-순환거버넌스 website.

Conditions for Picking Up a Kimchi Refrigerator on Its Own

A kimchi refrigerator is in the refrigerator category and qualifies for pickup on its own. You do not need to gather other appliances to request pickup. Kimchi refrigerators are listed in the operator’s eligible items guide.

E-순환거버넌스 runs a service that visits homes to collect discarded appliances. You can use it without creating an account. There is no pickup fee. You can check how the service works in the service overview.

Conditions at a Glance

Even if you meet the quantity requirement, you also need to check the appliance’s condition and how it can be moved.

Not working and being damaged are different criteria. An appliance is not excluded simply because it does not work. An appliance with only parts remaining, or one that has been dismantled, needs to be assessed separately. The criteria for different conditions are in the official FAQ.

How to Apply on the Official Website

Apply through “Free Home Pickup Request” on the official website. The reservation process follows the steps below. Children under 14 cannot use the online service.

1. Review the consent to use your personal information. Read the purpose of collection and the required fields before continuing.
2. Enter the pickup details. Use the actual location where the appliance will be put out.
3. Enter the appliances for pickup. Check any other appliances you plan to put out with the kimchi refrigerator.
4. Enter your basic details and verify your identity. Have your name, mobile phone number and address ready.
5. Check the reservation confirmation and completion screen. Keep your reservation number so you can look it up later.

You can see the steps on the official reservation page. Do not assume the reservation is complete just because you have entered your personal information. Check the final completion screen.

Pickup Days by Area and Phone Support Hours

The days pickup vehicles operate are not necessarily the days pickup is available where you live. The service operates nationwide, but you need to check the schedule for your area separately. The application page does not show a common deadline.

1. Open “Reservation Lookup” on the website.
2. Under “Check Areas Available for Reservation,” select your province or city, district or county, and neighborhood.
3. Check the results and the dates available to select during the reservation process.
4. If your area is not listed, call 1599-0903.

Do not assume pickup is unavailable simply because your area is not listed. The official lookup page directs you to contact customer support. Use Check Areas Available for Reservation to check your address.

Even if vehicles operate on Saturday, that does not mean Saturday pickup is available in your area. Closures for public holidays include New Year’s Day and the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays. Check the operating details in the User Guide.

The Difference Between Detaching a Built-In Appliance and Dismantling It

A built-in appliance must be detached from its installation so it is ready for pickup. Do not assume the pickup team will detach it on site. Dismantling or cutting the appliance may count as damage to its original form.

Check what removal work is needed based on how the appliance is installed. For a custom-made appliance, describe the model and installation setup to the call center first. If you hire a separate contractor to remove it, confirm the scope of work and cost with that contractor.

If using an elevator is difficult, discuss where to put the appliance out first. The official FAQ restricts moving large appliances via stairs. Check how the appliance can be moved before trying to move a heavy appliance yourself.

What to Prepare on Pickup Day

Remove food and trash from inside the kimchi refrigerator before putting it out. You must be present for pickup inside your home. Pickup from an unoccupied home is not available.

You must be present for pickup inside your home. (Pickup from an unoccupied home is not available.)

Source: Notes for E-순환거버넌스’s “Free Home Pickup Request.”

1. Remove the kimchi and other food. Set aside any kimchi containers you will keep using.
2. Remove trash and packaging from inside the appliance.
3. Check that any fixed appliance has been detached.
4. Arrange to be present if the appliance will be picked up inside your home.
5. If you put the appliance outside the building, attach a note saying it is scheduled for pickup.

The official guidance recommends writing the contact number 1599-0903 and the scheduled pickup month and day on the note. Pickup from outside your door can be arranged at a resident’s request. Collected appliances are not returned, so check one last time for anything left inside.

How to Coordinate Delivery of a Replacement with Pickup

Check the delivery date for your new kimchi refrigerator and the pickup date for the old one separately. The steps below are an example of how to prepare for detaching the old appliance and emptying it. They are not a separate schedule required by the operator.

1. First, check the pickup dates available where you live.
2. Check the new appliance’s delivery date and when the old one can be detached.
3. Decide where to move the food when you empty the old appliance.
4. Book pickup for a date when you can have the appliance detached and be present.

If delivery and pickup fall on different days, you will also need space to keep the old appliance. If the old appliance is going to be dismantled during installation of the new one, ask about pickup first. It is best to confirm whether it can be collected before deciding what work to have done.

Common Mistakes and Other Items to Put Out

Do not apply the “5 small appliances” rule to a kimchi refrigerator. A kimchi refrigerator qualifies for pickup on its own. Check any small appliances you want to put out with it separately on the reservation page.

The current User Guide classifies some electronic appliances by size and weight. Do not classify an appliance you want to put out based on its name alone. Ask your local community service center how to dispose of items excluded from pickup.

Changing or Canceling a Reservation

If you cannot prepare for your booked date, change or cancel the reservation. Enter your contact details and reservation number under “View/Cancel Reservation” on the website. If you do not know the number, use the reservation number lookup on the same page.

1. Check your booking under View/Cancel Reservation.
2. Request a change through the website or by calling 1599-0903.
3. If vehicle assignments have been finalized the day before pickup, contact the call center or pickup manager.