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

A man who casually bought a scratch-off lottery ticket has walked away with a 500 million won ($372,000) first-place prize.

According to Donhaeng Lottery, a ticket sold at a retailer in Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province matched the top prize in the 108th showing of the "Speetto 1000" instant lottery.

The winner, identified only as A, had made a habit of buying small amounts of Lotto and Speetto tickets each week as a personal pick-me-up.

"It was vacation season and I kept putting off buying tickets, but on my way to the hospital I spotted a lottery shop and bought Lotto and Speetto tickets as usual," A said.

A few days after the purchase, A remembered the tickets and began scratching them one by one. The first several came up empty, and he was not expecting much when he scratched the eighth — but something felt off.

"I had a sudden chilling feeling, and then I confirmed I had won first prize," A recalled. "I couldn't believe it. I never thought luck like this would come my way, and for a while it didn't feel real."

A immediately called his wife to share the news. As for how he plans to use the winnings, he said he hopes to pay off loans first, then finally pursue hobbies he had been putting off and spend quality time with his family.

Speetto 1000 is a printed instant lottery. Players win a prize when one of six numbers on the ticket matches a lucky number, with the top prize set at 500 million won.


choigo@heraldcorp.com