Brothers donate money to neighbors in need

Seen is the money saved in piggy banks that two elementary school brothers in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, donated, Dec. 30, after saving it over a year. / Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

Two brothers attending elementary school decided secretly to leave the money they had saved up for buying a game console at a police station for those in need.

The Gongju Police Station recently said that officers at Geumhak Precinct in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, found a paper bag containing three piggy banks in front of the precinct door at around 4 p.m. on Dec. 30.

A paper bag with piggy banks inside was left in front of the Geumhak Precinct in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province. Yonhap

In the paper bag, there were three piggy banks containing 1.08 million won ($842) and two copies of handwritten letters.

“We saved money to buy a game console, but please use it for people in need,” the letters read.

“We know it's not a lot of money, but we want to help people in need instead of spending it to buy a games console. Hope you'll be careful not to catch a cold, police officers,” they wrote.

Seen are handwritten letters from the two brothers in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, which were left with piggy banks in a bag in front of a police precinct, Dec. 30. / Yonhap

The police officers there checked the surveillance cameras around the precinct and found two boys holding the paper bag together entering the front yard of the precinct, leaving the bag in front of the front door, and then running away.

The officers saw the names written on the piggy banks, and found out the identities of the brothers after inquiring at nearby elementary schools. They were two brothers attending Gyodong Elementary School: fifth grader Oh Kyung-min and third grader Oh Nu-ri.

The head of the precinct, who spoke to their parents, said he heard that the brothers have been helping neighbors in need by saving money every year. The parents said the children thought police officers would help them find someone who needed the money, he added.

The Gongju Police Station said they donated the brothers' donation and additional money collected by the officers of the precinct, to the Community Chest of Korea's South Chungcheong provincial branch. In addition, they plan to award citations to the two boys in February.