Key facts
- A restaurant in South Korea named after Xi Jinping was vandalized by suspected Chinese nationals.
- Four masked men attacked the restaurant in Seongnam on September 24, smashing furniture and spraying lacquer.
- The owner received demands for a name change and monetary offers over the past year.
- Property damage was estimated at 15 million won ($11,100).
- The four suspects are believed to have fled to China.
- Police are seeking Interpol red notices for the suspects.
A restaurant in South Korea named after Chinese leader Xi Jinping was vandalized by a group of Chinese nationals who reportedly fled back to China shortly after the incident. Surveillance footage captured four masked men storming the premises in Seongnam, a city south of Seoul, on September 24, smashing furniture and spraying lacquer.
The restaurant's owner told local media that he chose the name Xi Jinping with the intention of creating the "best Chinese restaurant" in South Korea, asserting there was "no political intent." However, over the past year, the owner has received numerous demands for a name change, including offers of substantial sums of money from individuals claiming to be business operators in China. These demands intensified around the time news broke that Xi Jinping would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea last August.
In April, a complaint was filed with South Korea's Ministry of Intellectual Property concerning a menu item called 'Xi Jinping Special Rice,' but the ministry ultimately closed the case without finding any issues. The owner described last week's attack as the most significant he has experienced, with property damage estimated at approximately 15 million won ($11,100).
The restaurant, which serves a variety of Chinese dishes alongside some South Korean offerings, reopened on Tuesday after a five-day closure. The owner is now considering a new name for the eatery. South Korean police have identified the four suspects as Chinese men aged between 20 and 40 and believe they have since returned to Shanghai and Yantai. Authorities plan to request red notices from Interpol for the individuals.