Daejeon Station Lockers Overflowing with Abandoned Sungsimdang Bread Envelopes

At Daejeon Station, storage lockers filled with envelopes of Sungsimdang bakery goods have sparked attention. The bakery's popularity among tourists has led to bread being stored in lockers, with some forgotten or left behind. Daejeon Station refrigerates lost bread for a week and transfers it to the police for six months if unclaimed.

Daejeon Station Storage Lockers Filled with Sungsimdang Bread Envelopes Raise Concerns

Daejeon, South Korea - A peculiar sight has emerged at Daejeon Station, where storage lockers are being filled with discarded bread envelopes from the popular local bakery, Sungsimdang.

On June 22nd, multiple online community posts garnered attention under the title "Daejeon Station Coin Locker Update." Accompanying the posts were photographs of numerous storage boxes overflowing with Sungsimdang bread envelopes. Each envelope bore the slogans "My City, My Sungsimdang" and "Sungsimdang is the Culture of Daejeon."

Speculation suggests that tourists may have purchased bread from the bakery, stored it in the lockers for short periods while exploring nearby attractions, and inadvertently left it behind upon departure.

Daejeon Station employs a strict policy regarding lost items, particularly food. Bread found in chairs or other public spaces is refrigerated and held at the lost and found center for up to a week. If unclaimed, it is transferred to the police station for an additional six-month storage period. However, any bread that exhibits signs of spoilage or has an expired expiration date is promptly discarded within two days of its acquisition.

According to the National Police Agency's integrated portal site, nearly 10 reported lost items in recent history have been associated with Sungsimdang bread. Individuals seeking to retrieve lost items must present valid identification and visit the station where the bread was reported.

The incident highlights the popularity of Sungsimdang bakery, which surpassed Paris Baguette, the country's largest bakery franchise, in terms of operating profit last year. As per data from the Financial Supervisory Service, Sungsimdang recorded an operating profit of 31.5 billion won (approximately $25 million) in 2021, exceeding the 19.9 billion won (approximately $15 million) recorded by Paris Baguette. Sungsimdang's sales also surged by over 50% year-over-year, reaching 124.3 billion won (approximately $98 million).

Authorities urge passengers to exercise caution and avoid leaving perishable items unattended in public spaces. The accumulation of discarded bread in storage lockers presents a potential health hazard and detracts from the station's aesthetic appeal.