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Youth thefts surge in South Korea as unmanned stores face security challenges

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October 13, 2026

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Juvenile theft cases in South Korea increased 76.3% between 2021 and 2025, with authorities identifying the proliferation of unmanned retail stores as a contributing factor, according to a Korea JoonAng Dailey report.

National Police Agency data provided to a lawmaker showed the number of children ages 10 to 14 referred to juvenile court for theft rose from 5,733 in 2021 to 10,110 in 2025. During the same period, reported thefts at unmanned stores more than tripled, climbing from 3,514 to 11,015. The stores typically operate without on-site employees, relying on self-checkout kiosks to process purchases.

Unmanned ice cream shops, snack stores and other self-service businesses have become frequent targets, particularly among younger offenders. A report by the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice found that teenagers accounted for 57% of offenders involved in crimes at unmanned stores in Seoul between 2020 and 2022. The research also found that young offenders committed an average of 12 offenses each, compared with 6.9 among adults. In one case, police apprehended two teenagers accused of breaking into a self-service kiosk at an ice cream shop in Seoul and stealing cash before attempting a similar theft at another location.

The increase has raised concerns about security vulnerabilities and the burden on law enforcement as unattended retail continues to expand. Experts say businesses that operate without employees should strengthen surveillance, improve physical security and coordinate with private security providers and police. Lawmakers have also called for greater cooperation among store operators, local governments and law enforcement agencies to address repeat offenses and protect unattended retail locations.