All four suspects who allegedly broke into a Chinese restaurant named after a top Chinese leader in the middle of the night and committed acts of vandalism, including spray-painting, 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 the four male suspects, all Chinese nationals ranging in their 20s to 40s including a man in his 40s identified as A, who are facing charges including joint property damage.

A and the others are accused of breaking into the Chinese restaurant located in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, at 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 suspected of sprinkling an unidentified substance, presumed to be pesticide, onto food ingredients.

After the crime, the group took a taxi together to stop by accommodation in Seoul before moving to Incheon International Airport to flee to their home country, with investigations showing they 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 and other means, police identified the suspects later that afternoon, but A and the others had already departed the country on morning flights.

Police found that A and the others had entered South Korea without a visa and had been living in the country.

They explained that the suspects appear to have committed the crime after learning that the restaurant would be closed as the Chuseok holiday began.

At this point, weight is being placed on the possibility that A and the others committed the crime out of grievance against the Chinese restaurant, which shares its name with 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)