MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – In a remarkable story of integrity making headlines across the Palmetto State, a South Carolina restaurant owner discovered $12,000 in cash hidden inside a sunglasses case and immediately returned every dollar to the previous owner, even while his own business remained closed with zero income for months.
Sak Yiengjuntuek, proprietor of Lemongrass Vietnamese Pho & Thai Cuisine, made the surprising find while cleaning up after a fire at a neighboring building knocked out power and forced his restaurant to shut down for several months. As he went through the space, he opened a sunglasses case and discovered the stacks of cash inside.
“The first thing in my mind was that I’d try to find the right person to get this money back to,” Yiengjuntuek said.
Instead of keeping the money that no one else knew existed, he tracked down the former owner, who was facing serious health challenges and mounting medical bills. The returned cash arrived at a critical time for the struggling previous proprietor.
Yiengjuntuek purchased the restaurant in April 2025 and had been hit especially hard by the prolonged closure. With no customers and bills continuing to mount, the discovery came during one of the toughest periods for his business. Yet he still chose to do the right thing.“I was taught to do right,” Yiengjuntuek explained in an interview inside the restaurant, underscoring the values that guided his decision.
The inspiring act of honesty has resonated with locals, many of whom are now encouraging patrons to support the restaurant and help it thrive once it fully reopens. In a time when stories of character and personal responsibility often feel rare, Yiengjuntuek’s choice is being celebrated as a refreshing example of integrity in action.
South Carolinians say this kind of story reminds everyone what strong values and good old-fashioned honesty look like, and why they continue to make America great.
