University student Park Soo Yeon (age 22) uses two mobile phones: the latest iPhone 16 and a decade-old iPhone 5S. While she relies on the newest model for everyday communication, she prefers the older one for taking photos. She says “Pictures taken with an old iPhone feel like they were shot on a vintage film camera. It feels nostalgic—capturing the present with a past aesthetic.”
Like Park Soo Yeon, many young people are now seeking out old phones, embracing the “Young + Retro” trend, also known as “Young-tro.” Instead of sleek, modern devices, they are drawn to vintage models with physical buttons and nostalgic color tones.
Old iPhones, in particular, have gained a surge in popularity. The term “iPhone SE Syndrome” even emerged to describe those obsessed with the 2016 iPhone SE (1st gen). University student Kim Min Jung (age 21) explains, “I prefer the vintage aesthetic of the Steve Jobs-era iPhones over the latest models. The compact size and home button design feel nostalgic.” Similarly, Lee Ji Soo (age 23) still uses an iPhone 6 as a secondary phone, saying, “Among my peers, old iPhones are actually more popular than the new ones. The unique color tones in photos make them stand out.”
This growing demand has driven up prices. On online resale platforms, a first-generation iPhone SE now sells for over 200,000 KRW (~138.67 USD), while the 10-year-old iPhone 6S goes for around 100,000 KRW (~69.33 USD). According to secondhand marketplace Bungaejangter, listings for the iPhone 6S increased by 519% last year, and transactions rose by 28%.
The “Young-tro” craze extends beyond phones to digital cameras. The resurgence began in December 2023 when girl group NewJeans featured a digital camcorder in their “Ditto” music video, sparking renewed interest in old digital cameras.
Han Nam Kyung (age 24) visited Seoul’s Sewoon Plaza earlier this month to find one but struggled to secure a desired model. She explained, “With digital cameras in high demand, prices have skyrocketed over the past year.”
Camera shop owner Kim Min Ho (age 70), who has been selling secondhand cameras at Sewoon Plaza for over 40 years, confirms the trend. “A camera that sold for 50,000 KRW (~34.67 USD) a few years ago now goes for 150,000 KRW (~104 USD). Some cameras that people used to give away for free now require extra cash to purchase.”
Consumer studies professor Lee Eun Hee explains, “Young people no longer see old products as outdated but instead combine them with modern ones to create something unique. They are drawn to the analog era they never experienced, enjoying the novelty of stepping into a past moment.”
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