₩25 million found in a rubbish bag: finder received about ₩19.23 million

Reporting comes before the six-month clock

Article 253 refers to statutory public notice, not the length of time a finder privately holds an item. Leaving cash at home is not a substitute for that process. The arrangement gives the owner an opportunity to recover the property before a finder's claim to ownership is considered.

Article 9 of the Lost Articles Act removes rights including compensation and acquisition of ownership if the prescribed return or submission procedure is not followed within seven days of finding the item. That is not permission to spend it during those seven days. Legal guidance published by the Government Employees Pension Service stresses prompt return or submission to police.

Record the location and act on the collection notice

A finder should record when, where and in what condition the cash was found, then hand it over. A managed location such as a vehicle or building may require delivery to its manager. Who is treated as the legal finder depends on the location and circumstances, so confirm this when handing it over.

Ask the handling authority for the public-notice date and timetable, and do not miss the collection deadline after notification of ownership. Article 14 removes ownership if the item is not collected within three months of acquisition. Reporting the find does not mean every later step is automatic.

The process matters more than the windfall

The useful lesson is the record of handover and notice, not the size of the cash bundle. The finder acts promptly, the authority follows the owner-search procedure, and the eventual rights-holder collects in time. One reported outcome does not guarantee the same entitlement or payment for a different find.