YouTuber Ringring Unni exhibits pure gold melted from a brand on an LG Electronics Whisen air conditioner offered 20 years in the past in a video launched on Dec. 11. Captured from YouTube
An LG Electronics Whisen air conditioner offered as a restricted version 20 years in the past is drawing renewed consideration after it was revealed that its entrance brand was product of stable gold, a discovery amplified by the latest surge in world gold costs.
The thrill started after a case surfaced on-line during which the emblem from a long-forgotten, unused air conditioner was eliminated and offered for greater than 700,000 received ($475).
The story gained traction after a Seoul-based gold store proprietor and YouTuber referred to as Ringring Unni uploaded a buyer session video to her channel on Dec. 11. The client introduced in a small gold piece, saying it had been faraway from the entrance of an LG Whisen air conditioner. She mentioned a supply employee on the time had advised her it was gold and that ads from the time of sale had additionally described it as actual gold.
After melting and analyzing the piece, she confirmed that the Whisen brand was product of about 3.75 grams of pure gold. She later referred to as the shopper to say, “It’s not 18-karat gold, however pure gold. The purity got here out at 99.3 %.” She bought it for 713,000 received. The video has since surpassed 1.12 million views.
A scene from a video uploaded on Monday by YouTuber Ringring Unni exhibits a gold brand as soon as hooked up to an LG Electronics Whisen air conditioner. Captured from YouTube
The gold brand is believed to have come from a limited-edition Whisen air conditioner launched in 2005. LG Electronics offered the product to 10,000 prospects on a first-come, first-served foundation to mark rating first in world air conditioner gross sales for 5 consecutive years.
Gold costs have been far decrease than at this time. The client recalled, “Again then, they advised me it might be value about 10,000 received if you happen to eliminated it.” In 2005, gold costs stood within the vary of 50,000-70,000 received for 3.75 grams, the quantity used within the brand. On Tuesday, the worldwide gold value had climbed to 763,425 received for a similar quantity, based mostly on the Korea Trade’s closing value, representing an enormous improve.
Further circumstances of Whisen brand gross sales have since emerged. In one other video uploaded on Monday, a unique buyer mentioned her husband believed the emblem was gold and took it to a gold alternate, solely to be advised it didn’t look like gold as a result of there was no certificates. She mentioned she had thought-about throwing it away and left it mendacity round till a video appeared in her feed. Ringring Unni bought it for 748,000 received.
On-line reactions poured in, with feedback resembling “This can be a whole jackpot” and “LG mainly helped prospects make investments with out them realizing.” Others expressed remorse, saying they’d thrown comparable logos away with out realizing their worth, whereas some mentioned they believed the identical mannequin would possibly nonetheless be sitting of their dad and mom’ properties.
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Occasions.
