'Is Shin Saimdang Smiling?'... Counterfeit Bill User in His 40s Arrested

Police Tracking Down Accomplice Who Sold Counterfeit Bills

A man in his 40s has been arrested in Gwangju for using counterfeit bills and stealing daily necessities to cover living expenses.

The Gwangju Seobu Police Station announced on the 10th that they had arrested a man in his 40s, referred to as A, on charges of using counterfeit currency and stealing items such as drinking water and food (charges include use of counterfeit currency and fraud).

A is suspected of using counterfeit 50,000 won bills at convenience stores in the Seogu area of Gwangju from the 6th of last month to the 4th of this month. A, who was recently released after serving time for aggravated theft, reportedly bought 25 counterfeit 50,000 won bills from an acquaintance for 100,000 won.

On the 3rd of this month, A visited a convenience store, purchased low-priced items, and took 45,500 won in change by using counterfeit bills. On the 6th of last month, he attempted to exchange a counterfeit 50,000 won bill for five 10,000 won bills at a mart in Pungam-dong, where he had worked briefly, and also stole daily necessities such as drinking water and food worth about 2 million won from the store's warehouse.

Police, who received a report from a store owner stating, "The portrait of Shin Saimdang on the bill is smiling, and there is no hologram, so it looks suspicious," arrested A in the act in Pungam-dong, Seogu.

During police questioning, A admitted to the crime, stating, "I did it because I needed living expenses." Police are currently tracking down an accomplice, referred to as B, who sold the counterfeit bills to A.