Pair pocketing wishing coins at Cheonggye Stream sparks public outrage, possible legal action

Online outrage erupted after a man and woman were caught collecting coins that visitors had tossed into a “wishing stone” at Cheonggye Stream, prompting the Seoul Facilities Corp. to consider legal action.

A two-minute clip that circulated on X last Sunday shows a woman holding a parasol as she scoops coins from the bottom of Palseokdam along Cheonggye Stream.

Moments later, a man joins her and begins picking up the coins.

Located near Cheonggye Plaza, Palseokdam is a stone structure built with rocks representing Korea’s eight traditional provinces to symbolize national harmony.

It initially had no designated place for visitors to throw coins, but a “wishing stone” was installed in 2008 to allow residents and tourists to toss in coins while wishing for good fortune.

Since then, the site has since come to be known as “Seoul’s Trevi Fountain,” after the landmark fountain in Rome, Italy.

In the widely shared clip, the man and woman are first seen picking up coins that missed the wishing stone and landed nearby.

They then inch closer and begin collecting coins that had fallen ...