A father lost his wallet at a self-service gas station

He got it back within a month, along with a heartfelt letter

[AI-generated image]
[AI-generated image]

A man who lost a wallet containing 700,000 won ($506) in cash got it back — along with a carefully handwritten letter — nearly a month after it went missing, in a story that has been making the rounds online.

On Monday, a post titled "My father got his lost wallet back, completely intact" spread across online communities.

The author, identified only as A, wrote that his father had stopped at a self-service gas station on his way to visit his grandchildren and drove off without realizing he had left his wallet on the trunk. The wallet contained about 700,000 won in cash as well as credit cards.

[Captured from an online community]
[Captured from an online community]

According to A, his father realized the wallet was missing only later and retraced his route the following day, but could not find it.

About a month passed before the local community center called to say the wallet was being held there.

A said the wallet, retrieved through a local police substation, had every bill and card still inside — and came with a handwritten letter from the person who had found it.

In the letter, the finder explained their thinking: "This wallet, which must be precious to someone, ended up in the wrong hands — that is not right, so I made up my mind to actively find its owner." They added that because no phone number was visible, they had mailed it to the address on the resident registration card inside.

The letter went on to offer a warm wish to the owner: "Just as your lost wallet has safely returned to you, I hope good fortune finds you in the days ahead, and I humbly add one word — may you become a wonderful person who can do good things for your community."

The finder also wrote: "Returning the wallet and the considerable sum of money to its owner has lifted a weight off my shoulders, and having overcome a moment of temptation, I feel genuinely good."

A said he was moved to learn that the person who returned the money felt even more relieved than his father did receiving it. "If you happen to see this post, I want to make sure you know — on my father's behalf — how truly grateful we are," he wrote.

He added: "Thanks to you, we will carry this warmth in our hearts for a long time."

Online commenters responded with reactions such as "The handwritten letter made it even more touching" and "The world is still worth living in."


jshan@heraldcorp.com