Traffic chaos as man throws away money

/ Yonhap

A Daegu man threw eight million won ($7,278) worth of cash onto the road, Monday, in what police called a sign of mental instability. The money toss caused a traffic jam as people scrambled to scoop up the bills.

Police said the man had recently received 47 million won from family members. Surnamed Ahn, the man apparently felt insecure because he was holding so much cash, prompting him to throw piles of 50,000 won notes on the road near a bus station.

Traffic became chaotic as pedestrians and drivers rushed to pick up the money.

When police arrested Ahn at the site, he was still holding a bag containing the remainder of the money.

Police failed to retrieve the money that Ahn had thrown away. They also said there was no law in Korea to punish those who picked up the money.

Ahn, who is said to be mentally ill, refused to talk to a mental health professional.

Ahn’s parents and grandfather had given him the money to buy a car.