A viral discovery in South Korea has sent residents rummaging through their old appliances, after it was revealed that a limited-edition air conditioner sold nearly two decades ago featured a front logo crafted from pure gold.
The Golden Discovery Goes Viral
The modern-day treasure hunt began on 11 December 2025, when a Seoul jewellery shop owner and YouTuber known as Ringring Unni uploaded a video that quickly captured the nation's attention. The clip showed a customer bringing in a small gold piece she had removed from her old LG Whisen air conditioner.
In the video, the customer explains that the logo was advertised as gold at the time of purchase, a claim later confirmed by a delivery worker. Ringring Unni proceeded to melt and analyse the item, confirming it was 99.3% pure gold, not a lower-carat alloy. The six-letter "Whisen" logo weighed approximately 3.75 grams, equivalent to one traditional South Korean 'don'.
A Lucrative Relic from 2005
The gold emblem is believed to originate from a special LG Whisen air conditioner released in 2005. LG Electronics produced only 10,000 units of this model to commemorate five consecutive years as the world's top-selling AC brand.
Ringring Unni purchased the first logo for 713,000 won (roughly £360), a transaction viewed over 1.1 million times. The value stems from a sharp spike in global gold prices. In 2005, the gold in the logo was worth between 50,000 and 70,000 won. By 17 December 2025, the same amount was valued at 763,425 won based on the Korea Exchange's closing price.
The hunt intensified when a second customer brought another Whisen logo to the shop on 15 December. In a follow-up video, this piece was appraised at 748,000 won.
Online Frenzy and Unwitting Investment
The story has ignited a fervent response online, with social media users describing the find as "a total jackpot." Many have joked that LG essentially helped customers invest without their knowledge, hiding a valuable asset on the front of a household appliance.
One customer recalled being told at the time of purchase that the logo "would be worth about 10,000 won if you removed it," a vast underestimation of its current worth. The phenomenon highlights how changing commodity prices can transform forgotten items into unexpected windfalls, prompting many in South Korea to check their old units for the coveted golden badge.
