Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

A lottery ticket bought on a casual walk during post-surgery recovery turned out to be a 500 million won ($362,000) first-prize winner, the ticket holder's story revealed Saturday.

According to Donhaeng Lottery, the official lottery operator, the winner — identified only as A — picked up the ticket at a lottery retailer in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, while recuperating at home after an operation. The ticket won first prize in the 109th showing of the Speetto 1000 instant scratch lottery.

"I was out for a walk and some exercise and, without any particular expectation, bought seven Speetto 1000 tickets and headed home," A said. "I was scratching them alone when one came up a winner. I occasionally win small amounts, so when I saw the character 'O,' I just assumed without thinking that I'd won 5,000 won."

After checking and sorting through all seven tickets, A took another look at the winning one and doubted their own eyes. "The prize I thought was 5,000 won turned out to be 500 million won. I was so startled in that moment — I felt dazed, like I was dreaming," A said.

"I had never imagined that such great luck would come my way, so the win is all the more surprising and I still can't quite believe it's real," A said, adding that a spouse who heard the news "just kept saying they couldn't believe it."

A said the windfall was especially welcome given the difficult time spent recovering from surgery. "Such an unexpected stroke of luck arrived at just the right moment, and I'm all the more grateful for it," A said. "I think this win will be a great source of comfort and energy as I push forward."

A, who said they typically buy Speetto 1000 tickets about once a week, said they plan to use some of the winnings to pay off a loan.

Speetto 1000 is an instant scratch lottery in which players win a prize if a lucky number matches any one of their six numbers. The first-prize payout is 500 million won.


choigo@heraldcorp.com