HK couple win hearts after returning wallet, refusing reward in S Korea station

Michael Shum

A Hong Kong couple have captured the spotlight after they returned a wallet "lost" by a popular South Korean variety show and then asked the hosts to donate their reward to the needy.

Led by beloved South Korean comedian Yoo Jae Suk, the newest episode of the variety show Hangout with Yoo? featured the theme of people finding lost items in train stations.

Producers intentionally placed a black wallet on a bench on the platform of Chungmuro station.

Four hosts - Joo Woo Jae, Lee Ee Kyung, Park Jin Joo and Lee Mi Joo - hid inside the lost and found section of the station, waiting if there are any honest passengers returning the wallet and then surprise them with a reward. Hidden cameras were set up near the wallet. But many commuters, despite spotting it, chose to ignore the wallet until Tracy and Jacob, a visiting couple from Hong Kong.

Since the couple only know a tiny bit of Korean, Jacob took a picture of the wallet on the bench in case there is a language barrier between them and staff in the lost and found section.

They then picked up the wallet and went to the lost and found section, where they were warmly greeted by the four hosts, who were surprised that they were tourists.

The hosts then told the couple they had prepared six prizes for them to choose from - including a refrigerator, washing machine, curling iron, closet clothing care machine and a 72-inch television. They also told them they can arrange for international shipping.

But without giving it any thought, Tracy and Jacob told the hosts through a translation app: "We can donate the prize to those in need."

This shocked the hosts, including Lee, who was moved to tears, and Joo, who knelt and said: "I can feel the love of humanity. To be honest, I am embarrassed to be thinking which prize out of the six is the most expensive."

A worker at the lost and found section estimated that only two or three people out of 10 will take the time to take lost items to the section.

Tracy later suggested taking a photo with the four hosts as a reward, moving yet another host, Park, who said: "How can taking a photo with us be enough of a reward [for what you have done]?"

Joo and Lee later said they want to visit Hong Kong and make a donation after witnessing the couple's kindness.

The heartwarming episode was widely circulated online after airing on March 8, with Hong Kong web users sharing clips on social media, praising the couple for embodying the true Hong Kong spirit.

"There are still a lot of good people in Hong Kong," one commenter said. Another added: "That is the real way of telling a beautiful story of Hong Kong."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com