A Chinese restaurant in South Korea named after President Xi Jinping was vandalised by four Chinese nationals who fled the country shortly after the attack, according to police.
The incident occurred at about 2:40am on September 24 at the restaurant in Bundang District, Seongnam, south of Seoul, during the Chuseok holiday. Surveillance footage showed four masked men entering the premises and spraying lacquer and paint across the interior and exterior. Police also suspect that a substance believed to be pesticide was sprayed on food ingredients inside the restaurant.
The suspects have been identified as Chinese men aged between their 20s and 40s. Police said they returned to their accommodation in Seoul after the attack before travelling to Incheon International Airport and flying to China. Authorities are seeking detention or arrest warrants for the four men. If the warrants are issued, South Korean police plan to request Interpol Red Notices and cooperate with Chinese authorities to pursue the suspects.
The restaurant’s owner said he chose the name Xi Jinping because he wanted to portray it as the best Chinese restaurant in South Korea. He said the name was not intended to carry a political message.
Pressure Over the Past Year
The restaurant has operated under the name for about eight years. However, the owner said pressure to change it increased over the past year. He told local media that he received numerous calls ahead of Xi’s planned visit to South Korea last year. Further stating that some people allegedly offering large sums of money for the restaurant to change its name.
The business had also faced an earlier incident in July, when paint was reportedly sprayed on its sign. The suspects in that case have not been identified. In April, a complaint was filed with South Korea’s intellectual property authorities over the restaurant’s name and a menu item called “Xi Jinping Special Rice”. The case was closed without sanctions after the authorities found no violation.
The latest attack caused an estimated 15 million won ($11,000) in property damage, according to the owner. The restaurant was temporarily closed following the incident. The owner has since applied to change the restaurant’s name, citing concerns about further attacks. However, the business reopened on September 29 under a new name.
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