Busan, South Korea – May 15, 2025 — An elderly couple visiting Busan from Seoul successfully recovered their lost luggage containing cash and gold, thanks to the diligent efforts of the local police.
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| Recovered money of 10 million won and gold in lost suitcase |
Lost Luggage Contained 10 Million Won and Gold
According to the Gijang Police Station in Busan, a couple in their 70s reported at around 3:00 PM on May 15 that they had accidentally left a suitcase in a taxi. The couple had traveled from Seoul to Busan for a vacation, and since they were not accustomed to traveling, they carried all of their savings with them — including ₩10 million in cash and two gold rings stored in the suitcase.
Visibly distressed and shaking, the couple pleaded with officers to help retrieve their belongings, explaining that this was everything they had saved over the years.
Police Launch Immediate Investigation Using CCTV
Upon receiving the report, officers from Gijang Police immediately began investigating, reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas in an effort to track down the taxi. However, the search was complicated by several factors:
- The couple could not recall the taxi’s license plate or exact drop-off location.
- They had paid in cash, which made tracking the transaction difficult.
Fortunately, they remembered passing through a toll gate. Using this small detail, police were able to trace the vehicle's movement and identify the taxi after approximately four hours of investigation.
Working through the taxi company, officers successfully contacted the driver and recovered the suitcase fully intact.
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| Lost suitcase found intact on taxi |
Taxi Driver and Police Express Relief
The taxi driver explained that he had forgotten about the suitcase since a considerable amount of time had passed. Officer Kim Ga-young, who led the search, stated:
“The couple was desperate and begged us for help. We did everything we could to find their luggage. When they were reunited with the suitcase, they broke down in tears, repeatedly thanking us.”
This touching incident, recently made public, has resonated with many across South Korea. It serves as a heartwarming reminder of the dedication of local police and the humanity that exists in everyday life.
📚 Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
"부산으로 여행을 왔다가 전 재산이 든 가방을 택시에 두고 내린 70대 노부부가 경찰의 도움으로 무사히 가방을 되찾았다. 평소 여행을 잘 다니지 않던 이들은 부산 여행을 떠나면서 불안한 마음에 거의 전 재산인 현금 1000만원과 금 2돈을 챙겨왔다."
Key Vocabulary:
- 여행 (yeo-haeng) – trip / travel
- 전 재산 (jeon jae-san) – entire fortune / total assets
- 가방을 두고 내리다 (ga-bang-eul du-go nae-ri-da) – to leave a bag behind when getting off
- 노부부 (no-bu-bu) – elderly couple
- 경찰의 도움 (gyeong-chal-ui do-um) – help from the police
- 무사히 (mu-sa-hi) – safely / without incident
- 되찾다 (dwe-chat-da) – to retrieve / to get back
- 불안한 마음 (bul-an-han ma-eum) – uneasy feeling / anxiety
- 현금 (hyeon-geum) – cash
- 금 2돈 (geum i-don) – 2 don of gold (1 don ≈ 3.75g, so 2 don ≈ 7.5g)
Grammar Notes:
- ~다가 – indicates a shift in action or an interruption: 여행을 왔다가... → “came on a trip, but then...”
- ~ㄴ/은 마음에 – “with the feeling of…”: 불안한 마음에 → “because of anxiety / due to uneasiness”
- ~을/를 챙겨오다 – “to bring along / to carry carefully”: 금 2돈을 챙겨왔다 → “brought 2 don of gold”
- 무사히 되찾았다 – “recovered safely”: Commonly used with lost items, people, etc.
Translation:
"A couple in their 70s who came to Busan for a trip accidentally left a bag containing their entire fortune in a taxi but were able to safely retrieve it with the help of the police. Not used to traveling, they brought along nearly all their assets — 10 million won in cash and 2 don of gold — out of anxiety when leaving for Busan."
References: daum news, nate news, chosun news, joongang news
Keywords
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