Police in Incheon are searching for the owner of 25 million won ($18,000) in cash discovered inside a discarded trash bag in a residential neighborhood.
According to the Incheon Jungbu Police Station on Tuesday, a report was filed on May 10 that bundles of cash had been found in a 20-liter garbage bag discarded next to a villa in Geumgok-dong, Dong-gu.
The man who reported the discovery, identified only as Mr. A and in his 60s, found the cash hidden beneath clothing while checking the bag's contents to collect used garments. The money consisted of five bundles of 50,000-won notes, each containing 100 bills bound with bank straps.
Police conducted fingerprint analysis but were unable to identify the owner. Authorities have posted notices on the national lost property portal LOST112 and in local newspapers as part of efforts to locate the rightful owner.
"We also plan to investigate whether the money may be connected to any criminal activity," a police official said.
A similar case occurred recently. In December last year, a worker inspecting telecommunications equipment inside Sapaesan Tunnel in Uijeongbu discovered a gold bracelet weighing 100 don (375 grams) and reported it to police. The item was valued at approximately 100 million won at current market prices.
Police conducted an extensive investigation into whether a loss had been reported and any potential criminal connections, while also posting public notices to locate the owner. A man in his 30s, also identified as Mr. A, later contacted police after seeing the notice. Officers verified his ownership by matching engravings on the bracelet with sales records from a gold shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and returned the item on April 19.
The man stated that he had thrown the bracelet out of his car window in a fit of rage during an argument with his wife while driving.
The Incheon case will follow the same legal procedures. Under the Civil Act, if the owner does not come forward within six months, ownership transfers to the finder. If the owner is identified, the Lost Property Act requires payment of a reward ranging from 5 to 20 percent of the item's value. However, the law also stipulates that finders must report discovered items to police within seven days to be eligible for such compensation.
