25 Million Won Found in a Volume-Rate Trash Bag Goes to the Original Finder

A 25 million won cash bundle discovered inside a trash bag in a residential area of Incheon has been handed over to the original finder after the owner failed to come forward.

According to the Incheon Jemulpo Police Station, 25 million won in cash was found on February 10 inside a 20-liter volume-rate garbage bag discarded next to a villa in Geumgok-dong, Jemulpo-gu.

At the time, the stacks of cash consisted of 50,000-won bills bundled in groups of 100 with Bank of Korea paper bands, covered by old clothes.

A (a person in their 60s) discovered the cash while checking the garbage bag to collect old clothes and reported it to the police.

The police initiated an investigation to identify the owner and determine any connection to a crime.

First, the police posted a public notice about the found property on the Lost Property Integrated Portal and regional newspapers, and even attached flyers around the location where the items were found.

They then directly visited dozens of nearby homes to check if anyone had lost cash, but no one came forward to claim ownership.

The police were unable to secure biometric information such as fingerprints to identify the owner, and surveillance camera footage from the surrounding area showed no unusual movements.

Six months passed without the owner appearing.

Under the law, if the owner does not claim rights to lost property within six months from the public notice, ownership is transferred to the finder.

Consequently, in August, A received 19.23 million won via bank transfer out of the 25 million won, after the deduction of 5.77 million won, which included a 22% tax and regional newspaper public notice fees.

A acquired ownership as the initial finder, having not fallen under any disqualifying conditions for ownership such as failing to report or submit the found property within 7 days.

A police official stated that while no connection to a crime was found and the owner of the cash ultimately did not appear, the cash was managed through the national treasury before being disbursed to A.

(Photo provided by Incheon Jungbu Police Station, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.