Lotto jackpot winner claims nearly 1.3 billion won just before payout deadline

Financial News reported that a Lotto jackpot winner from a draw held a year ago claimed a prize of nearly 1.3 billion won only when the payout deadline was approaching.
According to Donghaeng Lottery, the lottery operator, the sole first-prize winner with a manually selected ticket in the 1,159th Lotto draw claimed an uncollected prize of about 1.285 billion won at the very end of the payout period. The last day to claim the prize was the 19th. Considering that banks were closed during the Lunar New Year holidays, the winner effectively came forward right before the deadline.
Lotto jackpot prizes must be claimed within one year from the start date of payment and can only be collected at the head office of NongHyup Bank.
If the payout deadline expires, the entire prize is transferred to the Lottery Fund under the Lottery and Lottery Fund Act.
The Lottery Fund is used to support a wide range of public-interest projects, including housing stability programs for low-income and vulnerable groups, welfare services for marginalized communities, scholarship programs, initiatives to promote science and technology, and cultural heritage preservation projects.
gaa1003@fnnews.com Reporter An Gaeul Reporter