 |
| Korean Workers dig through trash to find the lost money |
Although the incident happened in February, it was only recently reported by Korean media, bringing attention to the incredible rescue effort that followed.
🏠 How the Money Got Lost
Some South Korean apartment complexes feature automated garbage disposal systems that transport waste through underground pipes to centralized waste processing stations. Unfortunately, once something enters the system, retrieving it is nearly impossible.
Upon receiving the emergency call, city officials immediately halted waste processing, but by the time the woman arrived, she was stunned to see 24 tons of mixed trash. Worse still, her plastic bag had torn open, scattering the money throughout the waste.
🛠️ The 8-Hour Search Mission
Seeing her desperation, a group of sanitation workers at the facility stepped up to help search for the lost cash. Determined to recover as much as possible, they began spreading out the trash and sifting through it by hand.
Then, a breakthrough—one worker shouted with excitement: he had found the first 50,000-won bill! Soon after, another worker uncovered several 10,000-won bills. Motivated by the finds, the team worked tirelessly to continue the search.
For eight hours, the workers dug through the massive piles of garbage, ultimately recovering 18.28 million won ($12,700). Unfortunately, officials believe that the remaining money was either destroyed or permanently lost.
❤️ Acts of Selfless Kindness
Despite their grueling effort, the sanitation workers refused any rewards. They even apologized for not being able to recover the full amount.
“I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that I couldn’t stop crying,” the woman shared.
This inspiring story of kindness and perseverance has touched millions across South Korea, proving that acts of compassion can still be found in unexpected places.
Learn Korean with This News Summary 🇰🇷📚
Here’s a quick Korean lesson based on the news summary:
“아들 수술비 2600만원 버렸어요…24톤 쓰레기 뒤진 환경미화원들. 실수로 종량제 봉투에 돈다발 버려 신고, 직원 7명 쓰레기 더미 헤쳐 1828만원 발견. 세종시 게시판에 ‘돈으로 살 수 없는 감사함’.”
- 아들 수술비 (Adeul Susulbi): Son’s surgery funds
- 쓰레기 (Sseuregi): Trash/garbage
- 환경미화원 (Hwangyeong Mihwawon): Sanitation workers
- 종량제 봉투 (Jongnyangje Bongtu): Pay-as-you-throw trash bag
- 돈다발 (Donbapal): Bundle of money
- 신고 (Singo): Report
- 헤치다 (Hechida): To sift through
- 감사함 (Gamsaham): Gratitude
“I threw away 26 million won for my son’s surgery…” Sanitation workers sifted through 24 tons of trash. After reporting that she accidentally threw a bundle of money into a pay-as-you-throw trash bag, 7 workers searched through the trash pile and found 18.28 million won. On Sejong City’s bulletin board, she wrote, “A gratitude that money cannot buy.”
This simple breakdown helps you learn key vocabulary while staying updated on current events!