North Korea soldier defects, given free choco pies for life in South Korea
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A North Korean soldier who defected to South Korea has been granted his wish for choco pies while recovering in a hospital.
On Nov. 13, the 25-year-old defector known by the surname Oh crossed the border in the Joint Security Area, reports Newsweek.
He was shot at least five times as he escaped across the border where South Korean soldiers rescued him, according to New Zealand news outlet Stuff.
Oh was required to eat liquid food after being diagnosed with a parasitic infection in his stomach and hepatitis B.
Upon regaining consciousness after surgery, he requested for a choco pie. Confectionery company Orion promised a lifetime supply.
The Korea Times reports that Orion has sent 100 boxes to the hospital, though a company official reported that he cannot eat solid food yet.
The snack consists of two chocolate-coated biscuits sandwiching a marshmallow.
It’s a regular treat in South Korea but a valued good in the north. Choco Pies are smuggled through the black market and sold for several times the original price.
The snack has also become a point of political contention. As cited in a report by The Guardian, the North Korean regime in 2014 cracked down on choco pies after it became so popular, the government considered it a threat. North Korea has since produced imitations, though supposedly not as delicious. Niña V. Guno/JB
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