[Exclusive] "BTS Jungkook Hat Sold for 10 Million Won" Controversy, Police Agency Says "No Report of Lost Item"

"Ownership Acquired After 6 Months Without Call Following Lost Item Report"
Police Agency: "No Record of Found Item Reported" Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "No Lost Item Ledger Record"
Criminal Charges Regardless of Whether It Is the Hat Actually Worn by Jeongguk
Democratic Party Lawmaker Lee Jaejeong: "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Should Report Mr. A to Investigative Authorities"

There were no hats listed in the "Lost and Found Management Ledger for the Past Year" submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the office of Lee Jae-jung of the Democratic Party of Korea. The seller stated in the sales post that the hat was "a hat personally worn by BTS Jungkook" and claimed to have acquired the hat around September 2021. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' lost and found management ledger, which records lost items from May 7, 2021, to February 28 of this year, contains no report of acquiring a hat. (Source: Office of Lee Jae-jung, Democratic Party of Korea; Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] A controversy arose after a person claiming to be a Ministry of Foreign Affairs civil servant posted on a secondhand market on the 17th that they were selling a hat worn by BTS member Jungkook for 10 million won. It has been confirmed that the hat in question has never been reported as lost property to the police station.

According to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee member Lee Jae-jung of the Democratic Party, who received national audit data from the National Police Agency and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 23rd, the police stated in response to inquiries about whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs civil servant had reported the lost item related to the controversial sales post, “There is no record of a report regarding the found item (hat).”

The police explained that all found items reported to lost property handling agencies are registered and managed in the ‘Lost Property Integrated Management System (LOST112 system),’ and that the found item in question has not been identified in this system.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ‘Lost Property Management Ledger for the Past Year,’ submitted to Lee Jae-jung’s office, also did not include the hat. The seller stated in the sales post that the hat was “worn directly by BTS Jungkook” and that they found the hat around September 2021. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ lost property management ledger, which records lost items from May 7, 2021, to February 28 of this year, contains no report of the hat being found.

On the 17th, a seller posted on the secondhand trading site Bungaejangter, claiming "I am selling a hat that BTS Jungkook personally wore." The seller verified this by uploading their Ministry of Foreign Affairs public official ID. (Source: Online community capture)

Accordingly, regardless of whether the hat was actually worn by Jungkook, the seller may face criminal charges such as embezzlement of lost property, fraud, and impersonation of a public official. If it is true that the hat belonged to Jungkook, failing to report the lost item to the police and embezzling it could constitute embezzlement of lost property under criminal law. If the hat is not Jungkook’s and the seller posted false information, they could be charged with fraud under criminal law. Additionally, if the civil servant ID attached to the sales post is fake, it would constitute impersonation of a public official.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jae-jung said, “Article 234, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act obligates public officials to file a complaint when they believe a crime has been committed in the course of their duties,” adding, “The actions of seller A are criminal in any case, so it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ duty as a public institution to report A to investigative authorities.”

Lee emphasized, “Although this is a case that has attracted worldwide attention, if it is not handled promptly, there is concern that the public’s distrust of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our government will deepen,” and added, “While it is good for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve this internally, to quickly end the controversy, it is necessary to seek cooperation from investigative authorities through a formal complaint.”

BTS member Jungkook wearing a hat similar to the one posted in the sales listing. (Source: YouTube)

Meanwhile, under the Lost Property Act, ‘quasi-lost property’ such as items left by others, mistakenly possessed items, or lost livestock are subject to Article 253 of the Civil Act. This article states, “If the owner does not claim ownership within six months after public notice as prescribed by law, the finder acquires ownership of the lost property.”

Importantly, the person who finds lost property must report this to the police station and submit the found item within seven days. If the found item is kept without reporting or is submitted after seven days, ownership cannot be acquired even if the owner does not appear.

If the owner does not appear within six months after reporting to the police, the competent police station must notify the finder of ownership acquisition through a ‘Notice of Ownership Acquisition’ or inform them by phone or text message. The seller did not disclose whether they reported the find to the police within seven days, nor whether they received any separate notice or message confirming ownership acquisition of the hat.