Seoul: The prosecution announced the establishment of new guidelines allowing prosecutors to suspend indictments for minor offenses, following the high-profile case where a man was acquitted of stealing snacks from a company refrigerator.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Supreme Prosecutors Office stated that under the new guidelines, prosecutors may choose to suspend indictments for minor property offenses if they determine that criminal punishment is unnecessary and the risk of repeat offenses is minimal. These guidelines are specifically applicable to offenses involving the theft or embezzlement of consumption goods, such as foodstuffs, where the financial losses are deemed trivial.

This decision comes in the wake of a publicized appellate court ruling from November last year, which acquitted a 41-year-old man accused of stealing a 400-won (US$0.28) Choco Pie and a 650-won Custard cake from his company. The case, originally tried in 2024, sparked public outcry due to the seemingly disproportionate response from the legal system. The defendant had been fined 50,000 won in an earlier ruling, which led to widespread criticism over the decision to indict him. The prosecution has since decided not to appeal the appellate court's verdict.