Korean War Veterans Steal Side Dishes Due to Financial Hardship... "Want to Help" Donation Inquiries Flood In

Seven Cases of Side Dish Theft at Mart in April-May
Over 20 People Express Support to Police, List Reported

An octogenarian male Korean War veteran was caught stealing side dishes from a mart due to financial hardship. After the news spread, dozens of people contacted to offer help. There was also assistance at the government level.

Mr. A was caught by the police on charges of stealing side dishes worth 83,000 won in seven instances over a month from April to early May at a small mart near his residence in Geumjeong-gu, Busan.

Busan Busanjin Police Station exterior.
Photo by Yonhap News

Living alone and relying on government subsidies, Mr. A reportedly stole side dishes from the mart when he ran short of money. Due to weakened teeth, he mainly stole sesame oil and salted seafood to mix with rice.

The police plan to request a summary judgment for Mr. A, considering the minor nature of the incident and his financial difficulties. A summary judgment is a simplified trial for minor crimes (fines under 200,000 won, etc.) that does not involve formal criminal proceedings and does not leave a criminal record.

According to the Busanjin Police Station in Busan, after the news of veteran Mr. A’s theft was revealed on the 25th, about 20 people contacted the police expressing their wish to support him. The police compiled the list of those willing to help and informed the Busan Veterans Affairs Office.

Citizens also contacted media outlets expressing their desire to assist Mr. A. One citizen said, "A veteran who fought for the country should not be treated like this in old age," and inquired, "How can I help?"

Comments on articles related to Mr. A’s theft included sentiments such as, "The saying that those who save the country become poor for generations is not a lie," and expressed regret, urging for increased budgets for such cases.

After learning about Mr. A, the Busan Veterans Affairs Office visited his home with the local administrative welfare center and is reviewing various support measures. They are considering possible assistance including housing support and welfare services, and intend to provide maximum support.

Regarding the list of prospective supporters received from the police, they plan to first identify the type of support desired and take appropriate action.

The Busan Veterans Affairs Office explained, "Our agency is not a place that can directly receive donations, so after understanding the intentions of the supporters, we will decide whether to provide direct support to the veteran or connect them through donation organizations."

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