Young South Koreans embrace old iPhones, digital cameras for nostalgia

"Shooting with an old iPhone feels like using a vintage film camera," Park said. "Even though I’m taking pictures in the present, they have a nostalgic feel, which makes them feel new again."

Park is part of the growing young-tro movement—a blend of "young" and "retro"—where Gen Z consumers seek older gadgets for their vintage appeal, The Korea Times reported. Instead of modern smartphones, many prefer older models with physical buttons and faded, grainy photo quality. The iPhone SE (1st generation), released in 2016, has become particularly popular, fueling what some call the "iPhone SE phenomenon."

Lee Ji-soo, 23, used an iPhone 6 as a secondary device and said older iPhones are more popular than the latest ones among her friends.

A person using an older model of iPhone. Photo from Pixabay

Soaring demand has pushed up resale prices. The iPhone SE (1st generation) now sells for over 200,000 won (US$150) on secondhand platforms, while the iPhone 6S, nearly a decade old, is priced around 100,000 won. According to marketplace Bungaejangter, listings for the iPhone 6S in 2023 surged 519% from the previous year, with transactions rising 28%.

According to Allkpop, he young-tro trend extends beyond phones, with old digital cameras also making a resurgence. Interest spiked in December 2023 after K-pop group NewJeans filmed parts of their "Ditto" music video with a vintage digital camcorder.

On Feb. 4, Han Nam-kyung, 24, visited Sewoon Arcade in central Seoul to buy a digital camera but struggled to find his desired model due to rising demand. "Prices have also risen significantly compared to a year ago," he added.

Kim Min-ho, 70, who has run a secondhand camera shop in Sewoon Arcade for over 40 years, said prices for some cameras have tripled. "There were cameras people used to give away for free, but now I have to pay a premium to get them."

Consumer studies expert Professor Lee Eun-hee attributes the trend to a shift in how younger generations view older items. "Rather than dismissing old things as outdated, young people are blending them with modern technology to create something unique," Lee said. "They are also drawn to the fresh experience of immersing themselves in an era they never lived through."