MONA – A Free Marketplace that Encourages Community, Connection, and Giving

by Thai An Kim

Remember when you moved into your first apartment? How exciting to have a place of your own, but also overwhelming with all the things you need to buy. But suddenly, like an answered prayer, a friendly neighbor was giving away some of his furniture and was even happy to help move them into your apartment!  As you looked around your furnished apartment, you smiled and felt a sense of peace and hope that even though moving out was hard, it was going to be alright. That is the kind of feeling and community that MONA fosters, where expats around Korea can post items and services for free so that someone in need can receive them, no questions asked.

Quinn, the founder of MONA has always had a passion for bringing the community together. “It’s not having money that makes people rich. It’s having good friends and encounters with amazing people that can enrich your life.” She started hosting events at her Vegan & Beyond Restaurant & Cafe to connect people with similar interests. Quinn hosts events such as entrepreneur talks & networking, Korean-English language exchange, women’s social nights, vegan cooking classes, and community sharing events like pop up markets for small businesses.

During her studies in Taiwan, Quinn was inspired by a market where people were giving away their things for free and people were smiling and thanking each other.  When she moved to Korea and noticed that people were paying to throw out so many things since they had no time to sell them, Quinn had another idea to help the community. She founded the “Really Really Free Things in Korea” Facebook group to connect people who had things to give away with those who needed the items. This exchange showed that  people were happy not only to save money, but also to reduce waste and save the environment.

With a dedicated group of volunteers helping Quinn, the community has changed its name to “MONA - Really Free Things in Korea”, and grew to over 13,500 members since 2019. The group has facilitated the giving and receiving of thousands of items, including physical things like furniture, clothes, books, and kitchen supplies, and services like haircuts and tattoos. ​

“MONA - Really Free Things in Korea” reflects Quinn’s vision of “by community, for community” that encourages a spirit of generosity and gratitude, where people give away very valuable items and see them make a difference. Doris A. was able to receive a computer set and sent it to her daughter in the Philippines! Her daughter can now have better access to her online classes and improve her studies. How amazing to see a gift travel from Korea all the way to the Philippines! ​

People in the MONA community choose to give away things out of the kindness of their hearts without expecting anything in return. But it certainly warms the heart when the receiver shows their gratitude. Hye Sun Lee was surprised to find a gift bag filled with treats and a thoughtful thank you note left by a member that received one of her donated items. “This gesture was so thoughtful and very much appreciated. I hope we all continue to be kind to one another.” This kind of grateful attitude brings joy to the givers and encourages people to give even more.

It’s the generosity and gratefulness shown within the MONA community that helps it grow every day. As Quinn has always expressed her desire for connecting the community together –  from her offline events at her restaurant to an online free sharing platform like MONA – we are excited to expand on her vision and invite you along for the ride. If you have something that you want to give away or are looking for something that you need, join MONA's Facebook Group and experience the joy of giving or receiving for yourself. Maybe you will be able to find friendships that make Korea a home away from home.

Follow MONA's Official Instagram for more information about upcoming events and free markets.
Join MONA's Facebook Group to create a more sustainable environment through giving and receiving items for free.​