At an unmanned store, pulling down pants... The store owner's anger watched through CCTV

Elementary Student Who Used Restroom and Ran Away from Unmanned Store
"Not a Customer... Came in Just to Use the Restroom"

A story about an elementary school student defecating and running away from an unmanned store has been shared by the store owner, sparking controversy.

An elementary school student using the restroom in an unmanned store in operation. [Photo by Online Community]

On the 23rd, a post by a self-employed person named A, who has been operating an unmanned store for over five years, gained attention on an online community. A said, "I've never encountered someone who pooped and ran away like this before," and added, "After reviewing the CCTV footage, it looks like an elementary school student. Since they are a minor, they probably won't be punished even if reported, so I plan to ask the neighborhood kids and catch them myself."

The photo A shared shows an elementary school student sitting inside the unmanned store with their pants down, relieving themselves. After finishing, the student stood up, adjusted their clothes, and hurriedly ran outside. A said, "I don't think they were even a customer. They came in just to relieve themselves. They left immediately after."

Netizens who saw the story responded with comments such as, "I hope they get punished," "This is why family education is important," "It must have been hard cleaning up," and "Children like that should be punished to correct their behavior early on."

This is not the first case of someone defecating and fleeing from an unmanned store. In August 2022, a woman in her 20s who defecated and ran away from an unmanned store on the first floor of a commercial building in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, was sent to the prosecution. In the same year, a U.S. military personnel stationed in Korea was caught by police after defecating on the floor of an unmanned photo studio near Hongdae Entrance, causing shock.

Under current law, defecating inside a store operated by someone else can be punished under Article 3 of the Minor Offenses Act. Spitting or defecating recklessly in places such as streets, parks, or crowded areas, or causing others or animals like dogs to do so and failing to clean up, can result in a fine of up to 100,000 won or detention. If equipment inside the store is damaged due to defecation or similar acts, charges of property damage may also apply.