A soldier who went absent without leave was caught by military police in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, after robbing a taxi driver.

The Army identified the soldier only as Kim, a 20-year-old with the rank of private, and he was caught while going into his relative's house Monday morning.

Kim ran away Saturday evening and changed into clothes he took from a civilian. Kim then took a taxi to Dongducheon and stole 50,000 won from the taxi driver.

While Kim committed illegal acts, he showed some compassion.

"Kim gave 1,000 won to a civilian for the clothes and gave his cash card with password to the taxi driver," an Army spokesman said.

Kim was called up in June and stationed at a unit in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, in August. He was under close watch since he ran away from home a few times during high school.

The military police are interrogating him, checking what motivated him to go AWOL.