A Chinese restaurant in Seongnam, South Korea, named ‘Xi Jinping’ was allegedly vandalised by four Chinese men during the Chuseok holiday.
The restaurant, located in Bundang District, Gyeonggi Province, was reportedly broken into at around 2.40am last Thursday (24 Sept).
According to Bundang Police Station, four Chinese men in their 20s to 40s allegedly broke into the restaurant while wearing masks and hats to conceal their identities.
Source: Yonhap News Agency via the Korea Herald
They reportedly spent about an hour tearing chairs and spraying lacquer and paint across walls, furniture and other surfaces.
Police also suspect that the men sprayed pesticide on food ingredients in the kitchen.
Source: Yonhap News Agency via the Korea Herald
Empty pesticide and insecticide containers were found at the scene and sent to the National Forensic Service for analysis.
The restaurant’s sign displaying the name “Xi Jinping” was also covered in black paint.
Initial damages were estimated at roughly 15 million won (around S$14,000).
The owner said financial losses could be much higher when accounting for days of forced closure.
Police said the suspects took a taxi to their accommodation in Seoul after the incident before travelling to Incheon International Airport and leaving South Korea the same day.
They are believed to have flown to Chinese cities including Yantai and Shanghai.
Officers identified the suspects through CCTV footage and found that they had entered South Korea on tourist visas.
One suspect arrived about a month before the incident while the other three arrived around a week before.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily
Police believe the crime may have been premeditated, suggesting the perpetrators learned beforehand that the restaurant would be closed for the Chuseok holiday, from 24 to 26 Sept.
During the attack, one suspect allegedly recorded the vandalism on his phone.
Police said no items were stolen and the suspects left behind no fingerprints or footprints.
The four men are being investigated for property damage and related offences.
Police have applied for arrest warrants and plan to seek international cooperation, including possible Interpol assistance.
They believe the motive stemmed from the place using the Chinese president’s name.
The restaurant owner said the attack was not an isolated incident and that controversy over the restaurant’s name had been ongoing for around a year.
He said he chose the name “Xi Jinping” eight years ago because he wanted a memorable name for his Chinese restaurant.
“There was no political intent,” he said.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily
The restaurant reportedly operated without major problems until last year, when news emerged that Chinese President Xi Jinping might visit South Korea for the APEC summit in Gyeongju.
This was when he began receiving calls from people asking him to change the restaurant’s name.
He claimed he received around 30 to 40 calls, all from domestic phone numbers.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily
Some people also allegedly visited the restaurant in person.
One visitor reportedly claimed to represent media covering the Chinese Embassy and the South Korean presidential office, warning that using the Chinese leader’s name could create diplomatic issues.
He said the person asked him to temporarily remove the sign, take a photo as proof and send it to an unspecified party.
When he refused, saying the restaurant had used the name for eight years without issues, the visitor left.
The person’s identity and claims could not be independently verified.
The owner said some people had also offered large sums of money for the restaurant to change its name.
He claimed some individuals asked for business registration details and proposed agreements involving payments and deadlines to remove the sign, but later stopped responding.
According to a police source, there had been reports of offers involving hundreds of millions of won, though details remain under investigation.
Source: Maeil Business
A complaint was also filed with the Ministry of Intellectual Property over the restaurant’s name and its “Xi Jinping Special Rice” menu item.
However, authorities reportedly closed the case after finding no legal issues.
The restaurant has become an online curiosity in South Korea since opening in 2018, with some netizens jokingly referring to it as “the Chinese restaurant Chinese people cannot go to”.
Following the incident, the owner filed a business name change request with the Bundang District Office on 28 Sept.
He said he was worried about further damage and wanted to protect his staff and customers.
While it is reported that the owner will reopen the restaurant soon, its new name has yet to be revealed.
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Featured image adapted from Yonhap News Agency and Korea JoongAng Daily.