Lee Hyo-sik is Finance Desk editor at The Korea Times. He manages finance-related stories on macroeconomics, banks, stocks, bonds, crypto etc. He is passionate about covering what's happening in Korea's financial industry and explaining it to both Korean and non-Korean readers. You can reach him at leehs@koreatimes.co.kr. Your insights and feedbacks are always appreciated.
Repentant burglar turns himself in
By Lee Hyo-sik
The Ulsan Jungbu Police Station said Tuesday that it booked a man, identified only by his surname Cho, without physical detention on charges of the attempted armed robbery.
According to the police, Cho walked into an English language institute at around 3 p.m. last Friday after confirming that the owner, a 29-year old woman, identified by only her last name Woo, was alone. He first pretended to be interested in taking a language class there.
But all of a sudden, Cho pointed a knife at her and demanded money.
During the commotion, Woo sustained minor injuries and collapsed onto the floor. As she picked herself up from the floor, she asked Cho about why he was robbing her, had him sit down on a chair and started listening to Cho as he explained how he became a robber, the police officer said.
After Woo placed the Bible before Cho who once went to church, he began talking about his life. Last year he was divorced and has since been grappling with financial problems. Cho then apologized to her and Woo gave him an MP3 player filled with files of gospel verses for his remorse.
Less than 20 minutes after he left, Cho came back to the institute and kneeled before Woo with teary eyes, asking her to report him to the police. Since she refused to do so, Cho called 112 and turned himself in.
A police officer said the case is the most dramatic he witnessed during his 30-year career. “Armed robbery is a serious crime. Yet the victim does not want to press charges against Cho, so we will indict him without physical detention.”