NongHyup Employee Who Robbed VIP Customer's Home Says, "Crime Driven by Debts from Rare Disease Treatment"

Debt of 140 Million Won from Medical and Living Expenses

An employee of Pocheon NongHyup who committed a robbery at the home of an elderly VIP couple in their 80s was found to have carried out the crime due to debts incurred from rare disease treatment costs and family issues.

On the 17th, Yonhap News, citing police sources, reported that Mr. A, a man in his 30s and an employee of Pocheon NongHyup who has been arrested and referred to prosecutors on charges of robbery and assault, had debts amounting to approximately 140 million won. Most of these debts were found to be loans from financial institutions, such as unsecured loans. The debts reportedly arose not from illegal activities such as gambling, but due to personal circumstances, including hospital bills and living expenses.

On the 30th of last month, Mr. A, a man in his 30s and an employee of NongHyup, who was charged with robbery and assault, was being escorted to the courtroom at Uijeongbu District Court in Ganeung-dong, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do for a pre-arrest suspect interrogation. Photo by Yonhap News

Before joining Pocheon NongHyup, Mr. A served in the Army Special Forces and was discharged as a sergeant. He developed a rare disease causing chronic pain due to an injury sustained during military training in the past. As a result, he had been receiving hospital treatment, including prescriptions for narcotic painkillers, but the burden of medical expenses increased over time, and his financial situation worsened further as he had to support his parents. He confessed that these overlapping hardships made life increasingly difficult. The police have tentatively concluded that Mr. A committed the crime due to these complex factors.

Mr. A is accused of breaking into a third-floor apartment in Eoryong-dong, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, at around 4 a.m. on the 28th of last month, threatening a couple in their 80s with a weapon, tying them up with cable ties, and then fleeing with jewelry and about 20 million won in cash. He reportedly scaled the exterior wall of the apartment to reach the third floor, tore off the window screen to enter the residence, and used cable ties to restrain the victims. The victimized couple were VIP customers who had deposited large sums at the local NongHyup branch, and it was reported that they had withdrawn approximately 300 million won earlier this month.

The police identified Mr. A as a NongHyup employee by analyzing CCTV footage and urgently arrested him while he was working at the branch counter. At the time of his arrest, about 70 don (a Korean unit of weight) of gold and other jewelry were found in his bag, and the stolen 20 million won in cash had already been deposited into his own account.

Pocheon Police Station, taking into account Mr. A's health issues, referred him to the prosecution on charges of robbery and assault on the 4th, five days after his arrest.