21Market
Seoul, KR · 2 known investors
21Market operates a marketplace for refurbished and used mobile phones in South Korea, using AI-powered inspection systems to verify device condition and performance. The platform ensures transparent pricing and quality assurance for buyers and sellers through automated diagnostics and data-driven verification.
Also known as 21 Market · Refercent · 리퍼센트
Founders & leadership
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 202621Market runs a South Korean consumer marketplace for used and refurbished mobile devices under the Refercent (리퍼센트) brand. Sellers can look up a quote for their device in about a minute and hand it over via convenience-store parcel drop-off, scheduled pickup, or an in-person visit to the company's office, with payment made the same day. On the buy side, the platform sells unlocked, carrier-free handsets and other consumer electronics.
Device categories covered include Galaxy and iPhone smartphones, Galaxy Tab and iPad tablets, MacBook laptops, Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch wearables, and AirPods. Listings on the company site show individual purchase transactions with model, storage capacity, price paid in Korean won, and a stated percentage premium versus competing buyers. The company operates a customer center reachable by phone and chat on weekdays from 11:30 to 18:00, excluding public holidays.
Business model
Marketplace model: the company buys used devices directly from consumers at quoted prices and resells inspected, unlocked handsets and other devices to buyers, alongside pickup, logistics and same-day payment services.
Revenue is generated from the spread between prices paid to consumers for used devices and resale prices for inspected devices.
Traction
The company site reports a service satisfaction rate of 97.4% and displays a running count of 1,624 devices being purchased, along with dated individual transaction records for models including the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Latest developments
A startup directory lists the company at seed stage with 500 Global among its backers.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Positioned in the e-commerce and marketplaces sector as a seed-stage used-device trading platform, with directory listings placing it alongside other second-hand device and marketplace operators such as Getmobil, Badili and Carousell.
Emphasizes higher purchase prices than competing buyers on individual transactions, a certification mark granted only to devices that pass its automated inspection process, and same-day payment.
Technology
The platform combines a standardized automated inspection system with review by engineers; devices passing inspection receive a Refercent certification mark. The company also states it applies a data-erasure solution to devices before resale to protect prior owners' personal information.
Go-to-market
Direct-to-consumer through its own website, using instant online quotes, a claimed price premium relative to competing buyers, multiple device-handover options (convenience-store shipping, pickup, headquarters visit), and customer reviews and repeat purchase rates as trust signals.
South Korean consumers selling used smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables, and buyers seeking inspected, unlocked second-hand devices.
Geography
Operates in South Korea; headquartered in Seoul.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- 21Market21market.kr · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 21Market do?
- South Korean online marketplace, operating as Refercent, for selling and buying used smartphones with AI-assisted inspection.
- Who are 21Market's investors?
- 21Market's investors include 500 Global, Kakao Ventures.
- Where is 21Market headquartered?
- 21Market is headquartered in Seoul, KR.