Couple Angers Public by Collecting 'Lucky Coins' from Seoul's Cheonggyecheon Stream

A couple has drawn public ire after being filmed collecting coins tossed into Seoul's Cheonggyecheon Stream by tourists seeking good fortune. The incident, captured on video and shared on X (formerly Twitter), shows a woman entering the stream to gather the coins, with a man assisting her. They were seen collecting the money from the 'Wishing Stone' (Palseokdam) area, a structure installed in 2008 for visitors to make wishes.

The collected coins are not merely discarded change; they are designated for charitable purposes. An information sign at the site states that the 'Wishing Stone' coins are used to support educational projects for children in Korea and around the world through the Seoul Scholarship Foundation and UNICEF Korea. The Seoul Facilities Management Corporation reportedly collects these coins and donates foreign currency to UNICEF and Korean currency to the scholarship foundation.

Footage of the couple collecting the coins, which lasted over two minutes, was posted with the caption "Anger gauge rising at the ugly scene at Cheonggyecheon." The video shows the woman placing the collected coins into her bag before leaving the area, despite the presence of other tourists. The couple's actions have sparked widespread criticism online, with many netizens demanding that they be held accountable.

The incident highlights a disregard for a public donation system aimed at supporting children's education. The public's strong reaction underscores the community's value placed on these charitable contributions and the offense taken at the couple's apparent appropriation of funds meant for a good cause.