All 4 Suspects in Vandalism at Chinese Restaurant Named After Chinese Leader Confirmed to Be Chinese Nationals

▲ The exterior of the vandalized Chinese restaurant

All four suspects who allegedly broke into a Chinese restaurant named after China's top leader late at night and committed acts of vandalism, such as spray-painting the interior, have been confirmed to be Chinese nationals.

Police have found that the suspects fled to their home country via an airport on the day of the incident and plan to pursue international judicial cooperation.

Gyeonggi Bundang Police Station announced today (September 27) that it has identified four Chinese men in their 20s to 40s, including a Chinese national in his 40s identified as A, who are facing charges including joint property damage.

Mr. A and his accomplices are accused of breaking into the Chinese restaurant located in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, around 2:40 AM on September 24, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, and spraying lacquer and paint across various parts of the interior.

They are also accused of spraying an unidentified substance, suspected to be pesticide, onto food ingredients.

Immediately after the crime, the group took a taxi together to a accommodation in Seoul before moving to Incheon International Airport to flee to their home country. They were found to have escaped to places such as Yantai and Shanghai in China.

Police launched an investigation after receiving a report from the victimized restaurant owner at around 8:30 AM on September 24.

Tracing their movements using CCTV footage, police identified the suspects later that afternoon, but Mr. A and the others had already departed the country on morning flights.

Police explained that the suspects appear to have committed the crime knowing that the restaurant would be closed during the Chuseok holiday.

Authorities are currently focusing on the possibility that Mr. A and the others committed the crime out of a grudge against the restaurant, which uses a name identical to that of China's top leader.

A police official stated, "We plan to continue tracking the suspects through international judicial cooperation and other measures."

(Photo provided by informant)

※