Lee Tae-sung, a Korean expatriate who won first prize in ‘Lotto Max’ of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation and will receive about 16 billion won. Provided by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation

A Korean expatriate living in Canada has won first prize in a locally sold lottery and will receive about 16 billion won.

According to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) on the 3rd (local time), Lee Tae-sung, who lives in Edmonton, Alberta, won first prize in ‘Lotto Max’ last October and became the winner of 15 million Canadian dollars (about 16 billion won).

He did not check the winning numbers for a while and learned of the win only later.

He said, “When I checked on a device in the store to see whether I had won, I was shocked by the numbers that appeared on the screen,” and added, “It was hard to believe, so I scanned it once more.”

He said he had not been able to see his mother for several years, and that thanks to this lottery win, “I can finally go to Korea to see my mother.”

He plans to pay off his mortgage with the winnings and buy the truck he had long wanted. He also said he would travel and carry out charitable activities for the local community.