A scrap-paper collector scratches a new car just four days after delivery... The owner sends him away saying, “It’s okay,” but then he comes back [Warm Stories]

[Financial News] A story has emerged about a car owner who sent away an elderly man collecting waste paper without charging him for repairs after he scratched a new car just four days after delivery, only to receive a gift of baby clothes from the man a few days later.

A post recently appeared on the social networking service (SNS) Threads saying, “There’s a heartbreaking but gratifying scar on my car.”
According to the post’s author, A, the incident happened on the fourth day after their new car was delivered. They had parked in a designated space in front of their parents’ home when they received a call from an unfamiliar number.
The caller was an elderly man who collected waste paper. He said he had scratched A’s car while turning his handcart, chipping the paint.
When they met at the scene, the elderly man repeatedly bowed his head and apologized, saying he would pay for the repairs. Seeing the damage to a car that had been delivered less than a week earlier, A honestly felt anger well up and was heartbroken.

But when the owner saw the gaunt face of the elderly man, who barely made ends meet by collecting waste paper, they couldn’t bring themselves to ask him to pay for the repairs. It was obvious that having to cover the cost would seriously affect the man’s livelihood for the next few days.
In the end, A sent the man on his way, saying, “You can just touch it up and drive, so it’s okay. Please don’t worry about it.” But even after the man had left, A found it hard to put their own hurt feelings aside.
A covered the chipped area by touching it up with a paint pen, but continued to feel upset inside.

The unexpected turn came a few days later. A heard from their mother that the elderly man had come to the house with a small baby outfit he had bought.
The moment A received the gift of baby clothes—a considerable expense for the elderly man—their hurt feelings soon gave way to deep gratitude and a rush of emotion.
A candidly shared how they felt, saying, “I was proud that I’d acted in a fairly mature way at the time, but I also felt a little guilty deep down.”
Even now, two years later, the scratches and touch-up paint marks from that time are still on A’s car. A added, “I’ve become less bothered by it over time,” and, “Whenever I see the scar, I remember what happened.”
People who read the story responded warmly, saying, “Both the old man, who got in touch instead of running away, and the car owner, who set aside their hurt feelings and showed kindness, are wonderful,” and, “This story shows that the world is still a place worth living in.”


[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter