South Korean worker in year-long trial over 73 cent snack ‘theft’
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A South Korean delivery driver has been in a year-long trial for “stealing” a Choco Pie and custard worth 73 cents, sparking outrage and calls for justice.
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People walk on a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, October 1, 2025. (AP)
A South Korean delivery driver accused of stealing snacks worth less than a dollar has become the focus of public outrage and national debate over labor rights and fairness in the justice system.
The worker, employed as a subcontracted driver for a logistics company, was charged with theft after taking a Choco Pie and a mini custard, valued at 1,050 won (approximately $0.73), from an office refrigerator last year.
Prosecutors initially treated the incident as minor, issuing a summary indictment. However, the driver denied wrongdoing and demanded a formal trial, insisting that other drivers had told him the snacks were available to everyone.
Court ruling sparks debate on fairness
The company claimed that workers were not allowed to open the refrigerator “without permission” unless explicitly offered food. The court sided with the firm, finding the driver guilty and fining him 50,000 won, which is nearly fifty times the cost of what he ate.
Unwilling to accept the decision, the driver appealed. Legal experts say his defense costs may now exceed 10,000 times the value of the snacks, with labor unions comparing his situation to Les Misérables and its protagonist Jean Valjean, who was punished for stealing bread.
Labor unions and advocacy groups have condemned the ruling as an example of judicial overreach and discrimination against subcontracted workers in South Korea. The case, dubbed the “Choco Pie trial,” has even been discussed in parliament this week.
Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office chief Shin Dae-kyeong said he would review the case “within the bounds of common sense,” as the next hearing, featuring two defense witnesses, is scheduled for next week.
