The Story Behind Korea’s Laws: Your Guide to Korea’s Legal Pulse
JEONJU, Oct. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — A courtroom drama over a stolen snack valued at just 1,050 won (about 70 cents) has drawn national attention in South Korea, where prosecutors have asked the court to suspend sentencing for a 41-year-old security guard accused of stealing a Choco Pie and custard bread from an office refrigerator.
The Jeonju District Court held an appellate hearing Thursday in the case of the defendant, identified only as A, who was charged with theft at a logistics firm in Wanju County in January 2024.
Prosecutors acknowledged that the monetary value was trivial and requested a suspended sentence, citing potential job loss if a conviction were entered.
The Choco Pie, a quintessential Korean snack long associated with the nation’s spirit of jeong—a warm-hearted sense of affection and human connection—has become the center of public outrage, with many criticizing the trial as a symbol of an “inhumane” and overly rigid legal process. (Image courtesy of Orion)
“The items were of negligible value,” prosecutors told the court. “A guilty verdict could cost him his livelihood, which would be unduly harsh.” They nonetheless argued that the offense was legally clear, pointing to two prior theft convictions, including one in 2019 that also resulted in a suspended sentence.
A’s lawyer countered that the incident was a misunderstanding, saying the snack was taken with presumed consent given the long working relationship. “It was something tolerated in practice,” the defense said, urging the court for “maximum leniency.”
Outside the courthouse, civic groups rallied in support of the defendant. The Jeonbuk chapter of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions said it was “relieved” by prosecutors’ call for leniency but urged the court to go further and acquit him entirely.
“Workers face severe punishment for survival-related acts while industrial accidents and wage theft often go lightly punished,” said local union head Lee Min-kyung.
The case has sparked debate about fairness and proportionality in South Korea’s justice system, particularly regarding low-income workers prosecuted for petty theft.
A final ruling is scheduled for November 27.
Jerry M. Kim (jerry_kim@koreabizwire.com)
