Man says life always finds a way after $1.5 million jackpot
Donghaeng Lottery's website shows the winning tickets from the 60th round of Spitto 2000 and the winner’s message: “life always finds a way.” Captured from Donghaeng Lottery's homepage
A man who won 2 billion won ($1.5 million) after purchasing scratch-off lottery tickets on his way home from exercising has gone viral for his unexpected reaction. His winning quote? “When all seems lost, life still finds a way.”
According to lottery operator DongHaeng Lottery on Wednesday, the man recently bought two Spitto 2000 instant lottery tickets at a retailer in Paldal District, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.
Spitto 2000 is a scratch-type printed lottery ticket that reveals results immediately. The top prize is 1 billion won with a winning probability of one in 5 million. He purchased one ticket, or two games.
After scratching the tickets at home, he was stunned to find that both had won the first prize, securing him 2 billion won in total. “I was coming back from a sports activity and stopped by a lottery booth to buy Lotto and Spitto tickets,” he said in an interview. “I was alone at home when I scratched the Spitto tickets, and one turned out to be a first-prize winner.”
Shortly after realizing his win, His hands began to shake, and he immediately called his wife. “She didn’t believe me at first,” he recalled, “but once I sent her a photo of the ticket through messenger, she was completely shocked.”
After regaining his composure, He said his first thought was, “I have to pay off my debt.” He added that he plans to check off the items on a bucket list he had written in case he ever won the lottery. His list includes repaying loans, helping both sets of parents, and buying a car and a home.
Asked to share a final message, he quoted an old Korean saying that reflects the belief that even in the direst situations, hope remains.
He wrote, “When all seems lost, life still finds a way.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.