💰 Korea's Shocking 'Garlic Field 11 Billion Won Scandal': Buried Cash, Accusation & Legal Reforms

11 billion won garlic field Korea

On April 10, 2011, a shocking discovery at a garlic field in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, South Korea, made national headlines. A 52-year-old excavator driver, Mr. Ahn, unearthed a staggering 11 billion won (approx. $10 million USD) in cash buried underground while helping the field’s owner, Mr. Lee, relocate crops.

But what should have been a moment of public praise turned into a nightmare for the man who found the money.

🕵️‍♂️ Suspicion Instead of Reward: The Unbelievable Accusation

After the discovery, instead of gratitude, Mr. Ahn was accused of theft by the landowner, Mr. Lee. Lee claimed he had buried a large amount of money in the garlic field and alleged that it had now gone missing.

Mr. Ahn immediately called the police, and when officers excavated the area, they found numerous bundles of cash tightly wrapped and hidden underground. Lee initially claimed it was only 700 million won, but later changed his statement to 1.2 billion, then 2.4 billion, until the truth was revealed — 11.78 billion won in total.

💻 The Truth Uncovered: Illegal Gambling Profits

Investigators discovered that the buried cash was illegally earned profit from an underground gambling website operated by Mr. Lee’s brother-in-law. Afraid of getting caught, the brother-in-law had asked Mr. Lee to hide the money. To do so discreetly, Lee purchased farmland in Gimje and planted garlic, sesame, and chili peppers to camouflage the burial site.

Over time, Mr. Lee began using the money without permission, spending more than 240 million won. Fearing backlash, he attempted to frame the excavator driver — but his plan quickly unraveled under investigation.

The entire 11 billion won was confiscated by the Korean government. Mr. Lee received a 1-year prison sentence, while his wife got 1 year probation. The brother-in-law, the original owner of the money, remains on the run abroad, and over 6 billion won is still unaccounted for.

11.78 billion won by illegal gambling profit

🧍‍♂️ What Happened to the Whistleblower?

Despite doing the right thing, Mr. Ahn received only 200,000 won (around $180) as a reward for reporting the illegal stash. Worse, his life was thrown into turmoil:

• His reputation was questioned, with some suspecting he may have taken part of the money.
• The garlic field turned into a media circus, attracting treasure hunters hoping to find leftover cash.

🏛️ Legal Reform Sparked by the Case

The high-profile case led the South Korean government to introduce a new policy: a reward system for reporting hidden criminal assets. Under this policy, citizens who help recover illegal funds can receive up to 100 million won, depending on the value of the seized assets.

📌 Summary of Key Facts:

• 📅 Date: April 10, 2011
• 🌍 Location: Garlic farm in Gimje, Jeonbuk, South Korea
• 💸 Amount Found: 11 billion won (~$10M)
• 🔍 Origin of Money: Illegal gambling operation
• 👮 Legal Outcome: Owner jailed, cash confiscated, main criminal still at large
• 🎁 Whistleblower Reward: 200,000 won
• 🏛️ Aftermath: New reward law for reporting hidden assets

📚 Learn Korean Through This News

Korean Text:

"불법인터넷게임 자금으로 전북 김제시 금구면의 한 마늘밭에서 포크레인을 동원해 캔 110여억 현금다발. 모두 8개박스로 전북 김제경찰서는 그중 한개만 개봉해 공개했다."

Key Vocabulary:

• 불법인터넷게임 (bul-beop-in-teo-net-ge-im) – illegal online gambling
• 자금 (ja-geum) – funds / capital
• 전북 김제시 금구면 (Jeonbuk Gimje-si Geumgu-myeon) – Geumgu Township, Gimje City, North Jeolla Province
• 마늘밭 (ma-neul-bat) – garlic field
• 포크레인 (po-keu-re-in) – excavator / backhoe
• 현금다발 (hyeon-geun-da-bal) – bundles of cash (literal: "cash bundles")
• 개봉하다 (gae-bong-ha-da) – to open / unseal
• 공개하다 (gong-gae-ha-da) – to disclose / make public
• ~여 (~yeo) – approximately / about (used with numbers)

Grammar Notes:

• ~으로 → 자금으로: Indicates source/origin: “with funds from illegal online gambling”
• ~을/를 동원해 → 포크레인을 동원해: Means “by mobilizing [something]” – shows the method used
• ~여억 → 110여억: This means “approximately 11 billion” – the “여” adds a sense of approximation

Translation:

"110 billion won in cash bundles excavated from a garlic field in Geumgu Township, Gimje City, North Jeolla Province, using an excavator – all tied to illegal online gambling. The Gimje Police Station revealed only one out of eight sealed boxes."

Reference: naver blog, TTHQ

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