Just as the Beautiful Foundation is striving to rebuild the philanthropic culture in Korea, the Beautiful Store is working to construct and spread a culture of sharing and recycling. The Beautiful Store facilitates sharing by providing a framework for individuals to donate items they no longer use to others who need them. After items are donated, the Beautiful Store cleans and repairs them, and then sells them to members of the community at a low price. It is through this process that the Beautiful Store hopes to succeed in creating a culture of sharing and recycling in Korea.

Since the first Beautiful Store opened in October 2001, growth has been explosive. There are 59 stores at the present time (March 2006), located throughout Korea. The Beautiful Store is unique among Korean organizations in that it uses all of its profit for charity and public benefit while propagating a culture of recycling. This "culture of recycling for charitable purposes" is well established in other developed countries, but is relatively new in Korea. With its fresh ideas and expert management, the Beautiful Store hopes to make a substantial contribution to the Korean civil society movement toward community sharing.

The Beautiful Store relies heavily on its volunteers, who willingly take on the hard work of transporting, classifying, and repairing donated goods. Their efforts are of the utmost importance. The Beautiful Store aims to build bridges between those who donate their resources and their time and those who benefit from their generosity. At the Beautiful Store, we work passionately and with a great sense of duty.

The Beautiful Store not only encourages the donation and recycling of secondhand goods, but also advocates using reusable shopping baskets and handmade, chemical-free detergents in our everyday lives. A responsible, sustainable lifestyle is a worthy and important goal. The Beautiful Store also provides an open space for disadvantaged community members to connect with one another, as well as a cultural space for local residents. Through small actions and changes such as these, we can ultimately make the world more "beautiful."

Beautiful Store (Korean Website): http://www.beautifulstore.org/
Beautiful Store (English Website): http://www.beautifulstore.org/english/index.asp