By Kang Aa-young
A stroke of luck? A janitor may become the legitimate owner of seven bars of gold, worth 350 million won, which he found in a garbage bin in Incheon International Airport Thursday.
Police identified the Korean owner of the gold bars, each weighing 1 kilogram and found wrapped in newspapers, and concluded he had discarded them for fear of being caught.
So far, the owner hasn't come forward. If the owner doesn't make a claim in six months, the janitor would take ownership of the cache according to a “finders keepers” law.
In case the owner shows up, the janitor will still be able to keep about 5 percent to 20 percent of the market price of the gold, or 17.5 million won to 70 million won, according to the "lost articles act" law.
Here is the catch: He will not be able to keep a penny if the gold is a tainted good or connected to criminal activity.