It has emerged that the winner of a first-prize Lotto ticket sold in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, last year still has not claimed more than 2 billion won in prize money, and if no one comes forward by the payout deadline, the entire prize will be transferred to the lottery fund.
According to Dong Hang Lottery, the lottery trustee, on the 7th, the unclaimed first-prize winnings from the 1,196th Lotto draw held on Nov. 1 last year amount to 2,001,627,550 won.
The winning numbers are "8, 12, 15, 29, 40, 45." The first-prize ticket in question was sold at a lottery retailer in Namyangju, Gyeonggi.
The deadline to claim the prize is until Nov. 2. If no winner appears by then, all unclaimed winnings will be reverted to the lottery fund.
Winners must bring the physical ticket to claim the prize. Details on payout procedures can be checked through the Dong Hang Lottery customer center.
Kim Jong-un, head of the service division at Dong Hang Lottery, said, "Please double-check if you have any tickets for which you have not confirmed the results after purchase, and make sure to claim your prize within the payout deadline," adding, "If you use 'Lottery Wallet,' an electronic lottery registration system, when buying Lotto tickets at retailers going forward, you can receive services such as notifications of draw results and automatic payment of unclaimed winnings, which will help prevent missing out on prizes."
"Lottery Wallet" is an electronic lottery registration service provided through the PAYCO mobile payment app. If you register a paper Lotto ticket purchased at a retailer in Lottery Wallet, you can receive notifications of the draw results afterward.
Any prize not claimed by the day before the payout deadline is automatically paid on the deadline day. However, even if a ticket is registered electronically in Lottery Wallet, payout based on the physical ticket takes precedence.
Dong Hang Lottery added, "Until the day before the payout deadline, it is best to store the physical ticket safely to avoid loss or damage."