Many individuals mentioned they stood in line for four hours. The items that were most frequently presented included sets of silver spoons and chopsticks, traditional gifts in South Korea for holidays, weddings, and various celebrations.

At one jewelry store, a customer managed to sell three vintage sets of spoons that had been stored in a cupboard for years. After assessing the silver quality and weighing them, the shopkeeper handed over 936,800 won (US$655) for the sets.

People are lining up to exchange silver at a store in Seoul, South Korea. Photo courtesy of Youtube/Channel A News (Korea)

"We skipped lunch to maintain our position in the line after learning that silver prices are reaching historical highs," a young individual stated. "We hope the funds from selling will assist in covering some costs for our upcoming wedding."

The excitement is also noticeable online. On the web forum Daum, topics like "treasure hunting in the kitchen cupboard" have sparked thousands of conversations.

Many showcased spoon collections passed down from grandparents that were once viewed as outdated and kept solely for decoration, but have now unexpectedly become lucrative treasures.

The surge in silver selling coincides with an increase in the metal's price. On January 23, global silver prices hit $103 after climbing 12% within a week.

In comparison to the beginning of 2026, the price has soared by 45%, elevating its market valuation to over $5.8 trillion.

Silver spoons were submitted for sale. Photo courtesy of Youtube/Channel A News (Korea)

The demand for investment has also escalated significantly, leading to shortages of small silver bars: One-kilogram bars priced at 6.8 million won ($4,759) are sold out, with purchasers needing to place deposits and wait for no less than two months.

Lee Jong-won, an office employee in Seoul, commented: "In light of economic challenges, I believe silver is a safe option after gold, but I'm clearly not alone in that perspective."

Meanwhile, specialists confirm that silver does tarnish over time, which is a natural occurrence and does not diminish its worth. "As long as purity and weight remain intact, individuals can still sell at ... market rates," said a shopkeeper in Jongno.