Home > Opinion > Columns

Coffee, prosecution and a question about fairness

Published: 01 Apr. 2026, 00:02

Ahn Hai-ri

The author is an editorial writer at the JoongAng Ilbo.

A headline in a morning newspaper prompted an involuntary reaction: “Is this right?” The story described a 20-year-old part-time worker who was referred to prosecutors on suspicion of occupational embezzlement for taking three cups of coffee without the owner’s permission from a cafe where they worked.

Job seekers look around company booths at the 2026 medium-sized company job fair at the aT Center in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on March 31. [YONHAP]

The incident did not end there. While preparing for the college entrance exam last year, the student had quit another cafe. The owner there accused them of improperly accumulating customer loyalty points and demanded a settlement of 5.5 million won ($3,600), nearly twice the wages received over five months. Later, an owner of yet another cafe, where the student occasionally worked through a referral, filed a complaint over three cups of coffee worth 12,800 won. The case was investigated with the involvement of a law firm. Police determined that the charges could apply and referred the case to prosecutors, who are conducting an additional investigation following instructions from the Cheongju District Prosecutors’ Office.

It is difficult to judge the merits of the case without knowing all the details, including mutual allegations of threats and false accusations between the cafe owners and the worker. Yet the episode suggests that something in society may be out of balance.

Online discussions have speculated that the worker could have been a victim of exploitative practices sometimes attributed to cafe owners, or that they may indeed have repeatedly taken coffee without paying. Even if wrongdoing occurred, however, it is hard to regard a society as healthy when such a minor dispute is not resolved through dialogue but escalated into criminal punishment of a young worker. Prosecutorial resources are reportedly stretched thin, and even allowing for differences of opinion, a case involving three cups of coffee hardly seems to warrant priority attention.

Some may dismiss the incident as an unusual anecdote. Yet it appears to reflect broader pressures faced by young people. Another report released the same day found that while 87.8 percent of students at four leading science and technology institutes, including KAIST, agreed on the need for entrepreneurship, only 10.9 percent said they would consider starting a business, according to a survey by the Federation of Korean Industries.

The main deterrent was the psychological and financial risk of failure. On average, two-thirds of all startups close within five years. Younger founders, who generally have fewer assets than older generations, often face severe financial consequences and social stigma if their ventures fail. In a system where individuals bear most of the risk without sufficient safety nets, even highly trained science and engineering graduates hesitate to pursue entrepreneurship. The fear that a single failure could derail one’s life discourages attempts, making it difficult to criticize a perceived lack of initiative.

Avoiding entrepreneurship does not necessarily eliminate risk. Youth employment has contracted to the point that workers in their 50s at the country’s 500 largest companies now outnumber those in their 20s. Jobs for people in their 20s and younger have declined for 12 consecutive quarters, reflecting the combined effects of economic slowdown and job displacement linked to artificial intelligence.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol visits the Daejeon Startup Park in Yuseong District, Daejeon, on March 9 and speaks with young entrepreneurs attempting to restart their businesses and experts during an on-site meeting on youth entrepreneurship. [NEWS1]

As entry points to stable employment narrow, and alternatives such as entrepreneurship remain unattractive, young people are increasingly pushed into precarious work environments. This raises questions about what kind of future they can realistically expect.

Economic conditions add further strain. The dollar-won exchange rate closed at 1,530.1 won on Tuesday, a level comparable to previous global crises. Combined with rising oil prices linked to tensions involving Iran, the cost of living has increased across all age groups. For younger people without assets, relying on part-time wages or modest salaries to cover rent and tuition, the burden is heavier.

The situation presents a stark contrast. A young worker faces legal consequences over a small sum, employment opportunities are shrinking, entrepreneurship carries high risk, and wages remain stagnant while living costs rise. Political leaders frequently speak of improving livelihoods, yet their focus often appears consumed by partisan conflict. The question raised at the outset lingers: Is this right?

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.