“Buying Ghost Helicopters”: The Strange Stickers Found on Bathroom Walls

For a time, stories circulated about strange stickers found in places like subway‑station restrooms, bus terminals, and highway rest areas.

The message was short:

“Buying. Ghost helicopter. High price.”

At first glance, it looked like a joke.
Was someone buying ghosts?
Or helicopters?
Some stickers even had phone numbers, but the wording was so bizarre that people mostly laughed or took photos.

But the phrase was not just a prank.

According to multiple reports, “ghost helicopter” was known slang used in the illegal organ‑trade world.
“Ghost” was interpreted as shorthand for “your kidney” in Korean (“gwi‑shin” → “gwi‑ha‑shin”).
“Helicopter” was explained as a composite term made from the English initials of organs such as the heart, liver, cornea, pancreas, tendons, and retina.
SBS also covered this in a 2021 broadcast, describing the restroom stickers reading “Buying. Ghost helicopter. High price” as organ‑trade code words.

This is the moment when the silly phrase suddenly becomes frightening.

“Ghost” wasn’t a ghost.
“Helicopter” wasn’t a helicopter.
Both referred to the human body.

Illegal organ‑trade advertisements have been found online as well.
According to reports citing the Ministry of Health a