"I Wanted to Return the Card Owner Quickly"… Students Who Made '300 Won Payment' Receive Appreciation Certificate

Returning Lost Card and Payment Amount Sparks Attention
Awarding Certificates of Appreciation to Resourceful Students Identified

Students who paid 300 won for a candy at a convenience store to help find the owner of a credit card they found on the street received a letter of appreciation.

On the 27th, the Jeju Western Police Station announced that it awarded certificates of appreciation to Jeong Young-chae and Jo Seo-won, first-year students at Jeju Jungang Girls' High School, and Kang Kyung-hee, deputy branch manager of the NongHyup Bank Jeju Provincial Office branch.
[Image source=Jeju Western Police Station]

On the 27th, the Jeju Western Police Station awarded letters of appreciation to Jeong Young-chae and Jo Seo-won, first-year students at Jeju Jungang Girls' High School. At the ceremony, the two students said, "We acted because we wanted to find the owner quickly," and added, "We didn't expect our small action to become such a big issue." They also expressed, "On the other hand, we were surprised that there were so few good stories these days that this incident became a hot topic," and shared their hope that "society will continue to be one where people can appreciate even small acts."

Additionally, the Jeju Western Police Station presented a letter of appreciation to Kang Kyung-hee, deputy branch manager of NongHyup Bank Jeju Provincial Office Branch, who advised Mr. Han to visit the convenience store. Chief Oh Im-gwan said, "When the card was found, the students could have been confused about what to do, but I am grateful for their calm and kind-hearted actions," and added, "I hope there will be many heartwarming incidents in the district in the future."

Students who pay 300 won at a convenience store to return a found card, leaving the card and 300 won in coins behind.
[Image source=JIBS news screen capture]

Earlier, on the 19th at 9:21 p.m., students Jeong Young-chae and Jo Seo-won used the found card to pay for a 300-won lollipop at a convenience store in Jeju City. They immediately informed the convenience store staff that they had paid with a card found on the street and left the card along with 300 won in coins, asking the staff to return the card and the candy payment to the owner when found.

At the same time, the card owner, a man in his 60s named Han, received a card approval text message indicating a 300-won payment at the convenience store, but he thought it was just the credit card transaction fee being deducted. It was only the next day that he realized his credit card, which he thought was in his coat pocket, was missing. He immediately called the NongHyup Bank Jeju Provincial Office Branch to report the card lost. Upon hearing this, Kang Kyung-hee, deputy branch manager of the bank, suggested he visit the convenience store where the last transaction took place, and Mr. Han was able to find the card carefully placed in a plastic zipper bag at the store.

After hearing the full story from the convenience store staff, Mr. Han shared it with the media. Upon seeing the news reports, the Jeju Western Police Station tracked down the two students and awarded them letters of appreciation that day.

However, even though paying a small amount to help find a lost card owner is a warm-hearted act, caution is advised as the owner might perceive it as a criminal act.