'I got a gold ring worth 200,000 won — now it's 800,000 won. Do I still have to give the same weight?'

A woman's dilemma over whether to give a gold ring of the same weight as the one she received at her child's first birthday celebration — originally worth around 200,000 won ($145) — has sparked debate online, as gold prices have surged in the years since.

The story came to light recently when actor Bong Tae-gyu appeared on the YouTube channel "Bibo TV," hosted by Kim Sook and Song Eun-i, where the group listened to viewer dilemmas and helped them decide what to do. One segment featured a woman identified only as A, who said she was struggling with what to give as a gift at her friends' children's first birthday parties, given the sharp rise in gold prices.

A said her friends had each given her a gold ring worth around 200,000 won at her own child's first birthday celebration. She felt it would be the cleanest approach to return a ring of the same weight, but admitted the roughly fourfold increase in price made it a real burden.

"I'm not sure whether I should give a one-don gold ring at today's prices, or whether it's acceptable to prepare a gift in the 200,000-to-300,000-won range I originally received," she said.

Bong said he thought it was better to match the monetary value of the gift received at the time. Referencing Samsung Electronics share prices during the recording, he suggested, "A lot of people invest in shares these days. You could give one share of a similar value — it might be worth even more later."

He also proposed a silver baby spoon set from a luxury brand, priced in the 300,000-won range, as an alternative. "They wrap it beautifully," Bong said, adding, "Everyone who receives this as a gift loves it — no exceptions."

Online reactions were divided. Some argued that receiving one don of gold meant returning one don regardless of price, noting that the original ring had also appreciated in value. Others countered that gifts should be calibrated to the market price and one's circumstances at the time, with no obligation to account for an asset's value a decade later. One commenter pointed out that the ring was given precisely because one don cost 200,000 won back then, questioning whether anyone would have given it so readily at 800,000 won. Others simply balked at the idea of spending 800,000 won on a first birthday gift for anyone outside the immediate family.