Long Before "A Bed Is Science," There Was a 'Limited-Edition Bed' ... Bought for a 'Substantial Sum' - Four Times a College Graduate's Starting Salary, But...

Ace Bed receives donation of a 44-year-old "limited-edition model" from customer

Bed bought in 1982 cost four times a typical college graduate's starting salary at the time

Solid wood frame featuring the "Two-Mattress System"

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"The bed was made well over 40 years ago, yet it has been preserved in remarkably good condition. Even our employees were surprised. We believe it has remained so intact thanks to the double-mattress system, which we have used since 1980." (An Ace Bed representative)

An Ace Bed product used by one customer for 44 years. This bed set was exhibited at the 1982 Seoul International Trade Fair. Its frame is made of solid walnut, and the headboard features a flower pattern similar to the one on the mattress, along with distinctive motifs. Ace Bed.

Ace Bed has drawn attention after a customer donated back to the company a bed they had used for 44 years. The bed was one of just one set that Ace Bed exhibited at the 1982 Seoul International Trade Fair. In effect, it was a "limited-edition model made for a special event." Ace Bed came across a post on the customer's social media account saying they were still using a bed they had bought a long time ago, and thought, "It might be the very product we exhibited back then."

A short while later, Ace Bed met with the customer and confirmed that it was indeed that product. With the customer's enthusiastic consent, the company accepted the donation. As a token of its appreciation, Ace Bed gave the customer a "Royal Ace 90s" mattress and an "Opalo" frame. An Ace Bed representative told The Asia Business Daily on November 11, "The customer said they had fallen in love with the bed at first sight at the fair and bought it," adding, "They roughly remembered paying around 1.5 million won." At the time, 1.5 million won was a "substantial sum," equivalent to around four times the starting salary for a college graduate at a typical company.

The bed's frame is made of premium solid walnut, and floral patterns are carved into the centers of the headboard and footboard. The mattress also features European-style floral embroidery, and is made with British velvet. The solid wood and carved decorations evoke antique furniture. Ace Bed said one reason the bed has lasted more than 40 years without damage is its "double-mattress system." The system uses mattress-specific springs in the top mattress and support springs in the foundation below, supporting the body in two stages and extending the product's lifespan by about 1.5 times.

An Ace Bed product used by one customer for 44 years. This bed set was exhibited at the 1982 Seoul International Trade Fair. The frame is made of solid walnut, and the headboard features a flower pattern similar to that of the mattress, along with distinctive designs. Ace Bed

Beds, which were expensive pieces of furniture at the time, began to establish themselves as a staple of newlywed households in the early 1990s. As housing shifted from detached and multi-family homes to apartments, beds, a type of Western-style furniture, became a key item for newlyweds. Even in the 1980s, when beds were not yet commonplace, Ace Bed remained committed to making beds. An Ace Bed representative explained, "We focused on creating specialized products that deliver quality sleep." This commitment was reflected in a 1993 TV commercial featuring actor Park Sang-won. Many people still remember its tagline: "A bed is not furniture. It's science."

In South Korea, customers have occasionally donated decades-old cars and electrical and electronic products to their manufacturers, but donating a bed is unusual. An Ace Bed representative said, "We are considering ways to share the value of the donated product with more people." Last month, Ace Bed released a video for its "Heritage Campaign," telling the story of the bed, the customer who donated it, and the customer's family. Toward the end of this year, the company plans to release new content featuring stories about the connections between other customers and the brand.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.