'Thousands Worth of Precious Metals Found in Trash Site Closed at Geumgo Expressway...'

Hwaseong City Awards Commendation to Employee Who Reported Found Valuables
Mayor Jung: "An Exemplary Public Official's Integrity Will Resonate Throughout Society"

A local government official who reported finding precious metals worth tens of millions of won inside a safe discarded in a garbage dump has become a hot topic.

Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, recently awarded a commendation on the 16th to Officer Jo Seong-jun, who discovered precious metals inside a discarded safe at the city’s recycling facility and immediately reported it to the police.

Jung Myung-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong City, is presenting a commendation to Joseongjun (left), an official who reported finding precious metals in a waste vault at the Dongtan branch office on the 16th. Photo by Hwaseong City

On the 9th, Officer Jo found precious metals worth tens of millions of won inside a discarded safe while sorting waste at a recycling facility in Hwaseong. He promptly reported the find to the Hwaseong Western Police Station, asking them to locate the owner of the lost property.

Jung Myung-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong, said, "I deeply thank Officer Jo, who quietly fulfilled his duties with integrity and uprightness even in ordinary daily life. This touching case shows that the honest judgment of a public official and a citizen of Hwaseong can resonate strongly throughout the entire civic society."

Previously, in 2019, Hwaseong City had a case where an employee returned precious metals found in a scrap metal pile to the owner and even declined a reward.

Through this commendation, the city plans to promote a culture of integrity in public service and further enhance citizens’ trust.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.