![A digital door lock. This image is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/15/news-p.v1.20260615.a422bbad25854fbeb200131046f2581e_P1.jpg)
A man in his 20s has been arrested after breaking into his neighbor's apartment and stealing women's underwear.
The suspect, identified only as A, faces charges of residential burglary and theft and was scheduled to appear Monday at Seoul Central District Court for a pre-arrest detention hearing.
A was caught in the act on Saturday morning after breaking into the apartment of his neighbor, a woman identified as B, at around 9:25 a.m. and rummaging through her laundry. B spotted him and called police, who arrested him at the scene.
A is believed to have memorized the passcode to B's electronic door lock by watching her enter it.
Police found more than 20 additional items — including underwear and socks believed to belong to B and other women — in a trash bag A had discarded, and are continuing their investigation. During questioning, A claimed that clothing beyond what he had stolen was given to him by a former girlfriend. He is enrolled at a medical school in Seoul.
Police applied for an arrest warrant for A on Sunday and are investigating the exact motive and circumstances of the alleged crimes.
choigo@heraldcorp.com
