Early this month in Myeongdong, one of the most bustling spots in central Seoul, bell ringers found a 110 million won ($95,000) check, the largest amount put in a red kettle since the campaign started in 1928. The anonymous man believed to be in his 60s wrote a note along with the huge sum: “Meager as this amount may be, I hope it will be used to help the sick and lonely old people.”