A foreign friend asked me. "Why do you meet strangers in person to buy things?" I walked with that friend through the alleys of our neighborhood and explained it to them. ## In Front of the Apartment Main Gate With apps like Danggeun Market, you first verify the neighborhood where you live. It uses your phone's location to check whether you are actually in that neighborhood right now. So most of the people who see the post and get in touch are neighbors who can come on foot. They aren't strangers from far away but people who come and go through the same main gate, so it puts both sides a little more at ease. ## In Front of the Corner Convenience Store If you walk along the alley, you'll come to the meeting spot. I pick a bright place with lots of people, not inside the house. Places like in front of a convenience store, an apartment entrance, or a subway station. If you meet in person, you can see the item with your own eyes and talk about the price right away. There's no shipping fee, either. If it's your first time, meet at a place like this rather than somewhere dark. ## A Small Thermometer on the Screen When a deal is done, you leave reviews for each other. Whether you were on time and whether you were kind add up to become your 'Manner Temperature'. A high temperature means the neighbor is trustworthy. You may run into each other again in the same neighborhood, so it's important to earn a good reputation among your neighbors. The default temperature and features may change, so please check the app's guide.