hankyoreh

By Choi Yu-bin, staff reporter 　

With Lunar New Years coming up on Feb. 10, ‘exotic notes’ are becoming popular online purchases. Adults, who wish to hand out fake money containing New Years blessings or foreign currency for New Years money gifts, are buying them in great numbers. It is Korean custom for young people to receive some money and blessing from their elders on New Years after they perform the traditional bow to pay their respects.

Statistics from the online shopping mall ‘11th street’ evaluated on Feb. 5 shows that the profit from selling ‘foreign notes’ increased by 300% last month compared to last December, and increased by 200% compared to last January.

Notes that are from Zimbabwe and the former Yugoslavia are especially popular. The one hundred trillion dollar note from Zimbabwe has 14 zeros yet only costs about 4000 won (US$3.67). The note was issued in 2009 inflation when Zimbabwe’s currency was experiencing hyperinflation, but was discontinued after 17 days. It is no longer in circulation in Zimbabwe. The 50 billion dollar note from the former Yugoslavia contains 11 zeros yet only costs about 8000 won (US$7.34). The note was issued during 1993 when former Yugoslavia was in the midst of an economic crisis brought on by its civil war.

Believing it to bring luck, the US two dollar bill, which only costs about 2200 won, is also a popular choice for New Years money.

Fake golden notes with 10 billion won (about US$9.2 million) and 1 billion won (about US$920,000) written with phrases that mean ‘good fortune’ are also being sold. Although there are a variety of choices, none of them cost more than 5000 won (US$4.59).

Kim Hee-young, 52, who bought the fake notes, said, “Although the money is fake it still has meaning and giving it for New Years money feels like a fun and sincere gesture. I bought them because there’s less pressure and they allow me to express my feelings.”

A manager from ‘11th street’ said, “As a result of the recent economic recession, there are now more people who wish to lessen the pressure of handing out money for New Years. These people think that handing out foreign notes instead of regular money is a good alternative, not only because it conveys good meaning but it’s also fun.”

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