As Prices of Japanese Sea Salt Soar... 60s Couple Steals 21 Million Won Worth

60s Couple Arrested on Theft Charges on 23rd
Acquainted with Victim... Planned Crime in Advance
Salt Prices Rise Over 50% Compared to Previous Years

Amid the ongoing surge in prices of solar salt originating from Japan, an incident involving the theft of salt worth tens of millions of won has occurred. On the 23rd, the Jeju Seogwipo Police Department announced, "We have applied for an arrest warrant for a woman in her 60s, Ms. A, on charges of special theft and are currently investigating her accomplice husband, Mr. B, who has been detained."

On the 7th, interest in sea salt surged following Japan's plan to discharge contaminated water from its nuclear power plant, leading to hoarding behavior. Salt is being sold at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

They are accused of stealing approximately 700 bags of 20kg solar salt, valued at around 21 million won, which had been stored under plastic sheets in an open space of an abandoned livestock barn in Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo City, between the 10th and 13th of this month. After receiving the report, the police identified the suspects through CCTV footage at the scene. Around 6:30 a.m. on the 23rd, the couple was urgently arrested, and about 600 bags of salt were seized.

It has been confirmed that they were acquainted with the victim. Knowing that the victim had stored the salt, they committed the crime. As salt prices recently soared and shortages occurred, they used a truck to carry out the theft. The police believe that the approximately 100 bags not found at the scene have already been disposed of.

Meanwhile, with the upcoming discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, demand for solar salt has increased, causing prices to rise sharply. Vehicles carrying salt to wholesalers have been continuously arriving. According to recent data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the retail price of 5kg coarse salt averages around 12,000 won, a rise of more than 50% compared to previous years. Manufacturers using solar salt are experiencing production disruptions, severely impacting industrial sites.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.