SEOUL, Sept 22 — A legal dispute over a chocolate pie and custard cake worth 1,050 won (about RM3.15) has sparked debate in South Korea over workplace discipline, theft laws and labour rights.
The Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the case began on January 18, 2024, when a 41-year-old subcontracted security worker took the snacks from a refrigerator inside the main office of a logistics company in Wanju County, North Jeolla.
At the first appeal hearing last Thursday, the judge remarked, “At the core, this is about a chocolate pie worth 450 won and a custard cake worth 600 won. It makes one wonder whether it had to go this far.”
The company reported the incident to police, who charged the worker with theft and forwarded the case to prosecutors.
Prosecutors initially requested a 500,000-won fine through summary procedure, but the worker opted for a full trial, citing concerns over conviction stigma and potential dismissal.
In May, the Jeonju District Court found the worker guilty and imposed a 50,000-won fine, citing lack of permission and a prior theft conviction.
The court stated that the refrigerator was located in an office area separate from drivers’ spaces and typically required employee permission to access.
The worker’s lawyer argued that the refrigerator was in a public area near a water dispenser and that workers entered without hesitation, as shown in CCTV footage.
“The snacks were customarily treated as communal,” the lawyer said. “Do people have to ask permission every time they eat a snack or drink what’s being provided in an open space?”
The lawyer also suggested that the complaint was linked to workplace conflict, noting the worker’s union involvement and disputes over subcontracting and bonuses.
Union representatives questioned why only one individual was reported despite others appearing in the footage, suggesting the complaint may have targeted union activity.
The appellate court accepted two defence witnesses and identified three key issues: whether the refrigerator was accessible to the worker, whether a workplace practice allowed snack sharing, and whether intent to steal was present.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 30.
The worker has reportedly spent over 10 million won in legal fees, more than 10,000 times the value of the snacks.
Public reaction has been mixed, with some comparing the case to Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and others defending the company’s stance.
Online comments included, “It’s harsh to drag this to court,” and “The law is merciless to the weak but lenient to the powerful.”
Others argued that taking food without permission was unacceptable, citing the worker’s prior conviction.
The case continues to raise questions about proportionality in criminal law and the boundary between misconduct and crime.
