A middle-aged man and woman were caught picking up "lucky coins" at a signature Cheonggyecheon spot known as Seoul's Trevi Fountain, sparking controversy.
On the 21st, posts and videos exposing a baffling theft that took place at Cheonggyecheon spread rapidly on social media (SNS) and online communities.
The video shows two middle-aged people, a man and a woman, entering the Palseokdam near Mojeon Bridge in Cheonggyecheon without hesitation even though families with children crowded the area. They quickly stole the coins visitors had tossed with wishes.
In particular, they exchanged hand signals as if they had planned it in advance and scooped up all the coins in the water. They then put the coins into a bag they had brought, covered their faces with an umbrella, and left quickly.
This spot is made with stones symbolizing the eight provinces of Joseon and carries the meaning that if you throw a coin in the center, your wish will come true. According to the Seoul city government, about 4.4808 billion won has been collected here over about 20 years, and foreign coins total 399,950 pieces.
A sign in the area says, "The lucky coins collected from Palseokdam are used to support education for children in Korea and around the world through the Seoul Scholarship Foundation and UNICEF Korea Committee, among others." In fact, since 2011, the Seoul Facilities Corporation has regularly collected the lucky coins gathered here and donated them to UNICEF and others, using them as a special fund to help children worldwide.
Because Palseokdam coins are property that the Seoul city government continuously manages and collects for public-interest donations, taking them without authorization can constitute theft.