"Deposit gold and get dividends"... Jongno pawnshop owner flees with 2 billion won

Pawnshop [Photography by Jung Yu-jin] ※ Not directly related to this article.

The owner of a pawnshop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, has fled with gold and savings entrusted by customers, prompting a police investigation.

The Hyehwa Police Station in Seoul announced on the 9th that the first complaint of this nature was received on the 3rd, and since then, approximately 10 more similar complaints have been filed, and an investigation is underway.

The amount claimed by victims so far exceeds 2 billion won, and the scale of the damage could increase further.

Victims reportedly trusted the pawnshop owner's words, "Deposit gold and get dividends," and entrusted their gold. There are also victims who entrusted their savings.

The police plan to investigate the exact extent of the damage and the circumstances of the incident based on victim statements. (Yonhap News)