500 yen or 500 won? Fraudulent use of won coins rises in Japan, sparking concerns
Japan’s 500 yen coin, left, and Korea’s 500 won coin have a similar size and appearance. Captured from Fuji News Network
Reports of customers using Korean 500-won coins — worth about 53 yen ($0.36) — as if they were 500-yen coins ($3.40) are increasing across Japan, causing frustration among small-business owners. The trick exploits the fact that the two coins are similar in size and appearance despite having nearly a tenfold difference in value. Although many assume Korean tourists are responsible, Japanese media says the issue cannot be attributed solely to visitors from Korea.
According to Japan’s Fuji News Network (FNN) on Nov. 20, cases of “mixing 500 yen and 500 won coins” have been reported one after another at small shops across the country. The two coins are difficult to distinguish at first glance: Both have a diameter of 26.5 millimeters, feature similar designs and weigh only 0.6 grams. But the 500 won coin’s value amounts to only 53 yen. Whether through intentional deception or genuine confusion, Japanese shopkeepers end up suffering a heavy loss.
Takashi Ito, 69, who runs the udon restaurant Iyoji in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, told FNN, “The sizes and weights of the two coins are almost the same, so it is hard to identify them. I have suffered similar losses about 15 times over the past 10 years.” He added that it is difficult to monitor customers’ actions from the kitchen, and during busy lunch hours, it is hard to check money placed quickly on the counter. “My eyesight is not good, so I do not notice if someone leaves a 500 won coin,” he said. Ito added, “It seemed like a Korean customer, but I want to believe it was a mistake.”
A ramen shop owner in Fukushima Prefecture reported similar losses. “When I checked who paid with the 500 won coin, it turned out to be a Japanese person, not a Korean,” he said, adding that the customer appeared to be “a habitual offender.” FNN reported that similar incidents have occurred at restaurants, gas stations, public baths and convenience stores.
The issue also attracted attention last year. In October 2024, TV Asahi reported a case in which a customer paid a 500 yen public bath entrance fee with a Korean 500 won coin in Tokyo.
Using a 500 won coin in place of a 500 yen coin can lead to criminal charges in Japan. Intentionally presenting the coin to a shop can constitute fraud, while using it in vending machines or other automated devices can be treated as theft.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.