In brief
In Seongnam, a Chinese‑themed restaurant that bears the name Xi Jinping was vandalised by a group of four masked men at dawn on 24 September. Police footage shows the attackers smashing furniture and spraying lacquer before fleeing to Shanghai and Yantai in China. The owner, who had no political motives when naming the restaurant, has faced pressure to change the name and is now considering a new brand. Authorities plan to request Interpol red notices for the suspects as the case continues.
In Seongnam, a South Korean suburb of Seoul, a Chinese‑themed restaurant bearing the name of national leader Xi Jinping was vandalised early on 24 September.
Surveillance footage captured four masked men storming the premises, smashing furniture and spraying a clear lacquer across the counter and walls before fleeing.
The owner, who said he named the restaurant “to make it the best Chinese restaurant in South Korea” and stressed there was no political intent, has faced calls to change the name for over a year.
He reported dozens of phone calls in August last year after Xi was announced to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, some callers even offering money to rename the establishment.
Police identified the suspects as Chinese nationals aged between 20 and 40. They are believed to have fled to Shanghai and Yantai, a city in Shandong province, following the attack.
Authorities plan to request red notices from Interpol for the four men, which are not arrest warrants but requests for police worldwide to detain the suspects pending extradition.
The restaurant suffered an estimated 15 million won ($11,100) in damage, closed for five days, and reopened on Tuesday. The owner is now weighing a new name for the eatery.