Government Official Who Tried To Sell BTS Jungkook’s Hat Will Be Facing Embezzlement Charges
Last month, an alleged employee of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs faced intense criticism online after they were caught trying to sell BTS Jungkook’s lost hat online for ₩10.0 million KRW (about $7,460 USD). The employee eventually turned themself in after the Seocho Police Station launched an investigation.
According to the police, BTS’s agency HYBE confirmed that Jungkook did lose his hat at the passport department of the foreign affairs ministry while he was there to get his diplomatic passport made in September 2021. But neither the police nor the ministry ever received a missing item complaint. The seller is also reportedly not affiliated with the ministry anymore.
However, according to South Korean law, anyone who acquires a lost item must hand it over to the police. If they try to own it illegally or attempt any misrepresentation of it, they face charges.
After the confirmation from HYBE, the police informed that they had concluded the investigation and the accused had admitted to the whole thing. Now they are facing charges of embezzlement of lost articles, but the police are looking into the matter further to decide if an occupational embezzlement charge can be brought in instead.
To put the charges in context, this government employee tried to sell Jungkook’s lost hat from the brand KANGOL, which retails at around ₩90,600 KRW (about $64.50 USD) at more than a 1000% markup. The police are yet to confirm if the item will be returned to Jungkook or not.
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