Sweet red bean bread for sale at a bakery in Busan./Courtesy of Chosun DB

The story became known of a grandmother who stole five sweet red bean buns to feed her husband, who has suffered from a chronic illness for a long time, and received support instead of punishment.

According to the Goyang Police Station on the 9th, a woman in her 80s, identified as A, was caught on theft charges after stealing five sweet red bean buns at a bakery in Goyang around 2 p.m. on the 2nd.

An investigation found that A was a recipient of the basic livelihood guarantee and had cared for her ailing husband for more than 20 years. During a police interview, A said she stole the bread "because her husband likes it."

Police determined that a solution other than punishment was needed and referred the case to the petty offense review committee, deciding to send it to a summary judgment, which proceeds through a simplified process instead of a formal criminal trial. In addition, they connected A and her husband with the Community Service Center with jurisdiction so they could receive emergency living expenses and other support.

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