The number of households that bought lottery tickets was the highest for the January-March period over the last five years, according to data from Statistics Korea.
People stand in a line to buy lottery tickets in Nowon District, northern Seoul, on Monday.
Many low-income families bought more lottery tickets last year amid rising consumer prices, statistics showed.
The lottery agency insists that having 664 runners-up in a single Lotto draw — with more than 100 of the tickets sold at one convenience store — cannot be the result of manipulation.
Korea's antitrust regulator said Tuesday it is imposing a combined fine of 96.2 billion won $80.7 million) on 23 Korean and foreign shippers for 15 years of collusion to fix freight rates.
People line up on Saturday, the first day of the new year, to buy lottery tickets in front of a store near Jamsil Station in southern Seoul. A total of 18 people hit the jackpot, receiving nearly 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million) each.
According to the Korea Lottery Commission on Monday, 2.9 trillion won ($2.5 billion) worth of lottery tickets were sold in the first half of the year, a new record and 12.6 percent higher than a year earlier.
The Covid-19 pandemic made some people tighten their purse strings, while others decided to try out their luck.
Lottery sales hit an all-time high in the first half possibly due to the economic impact of the pandemic.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap
