The Xi Jinping–named Chinese restaurant in Seongnam was vandalised on 24 September by four masked men who investigators say are Chinese nationals and who later fled to China. The owner insists the name was a commercial choice and not political; calls demanding a name change intensified around last year’s APEC summit. Damage is estimated at about 15 million won, the restaurant briefly closed and has since reopened, and police plan to request Interpol red notices for the suspects.
Xi Jinping–Named Restaurant Vandalised in Seongnam; Suspects Fled to China as Police Seek Interpol Help
Surveillance footage show a group of masked men spraying lacquer across the restaurant in South Korea's Seongnam [News1]
A Chinese-themed restaurant in Seongnam, south of Seoul, that bears the name of Chinese leader Xi Jinping was vandalised in the early hours of 24 September, authorities and local media report. Surveillance footage shows four masked men forcing their way into the premises, overturning furniture and spraying lacquer across the interior.
Owner Says Name Was Commercial, Not Political
The restaurant's owner told reporters he named the business after Xi Jinping because he "wanted it to be the best Chinese restaurant in South Korea" and insisted there was "no political intent." The eatery has been operating for eight years, but the owner says demands to change the name have increased over the past year.
Escalating Pressure Before APEC
The owner said calls intensified in August last year, when it was announced Xi would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea. He told The Chosun Daily that some callers—allegedly representing businesses in China—offered substantial sums to persuade him to change the name and repeatedly pressured him to do so.
Complaints and Damage
In April, South Korea's Ministry of Intellectual Property closed a complaint about a menu item called the "Xi Jinping Special Rice," finding no legal issues. Following last week's attack, the owner described it as the most serious incident in the past year and estimated the damage at about 15 million won (roughly $11,100 / £8,400). The restaurant closed for five days and reopened on Tuesday; the owner says staff are now considering a possible name change.
Investigation and International Leads
South Korean police identified the four suspects as Chinese men aged between 20 and 40. Investigators say the suspects fled back to China after the attack, with leads pointing to Shanghai and Yantai in Shandong province. Police announced plans to request Interpol red notices for the suspects—requests for international detention pending extradition—while noting that a red notice is not itself an arrest warrant.
About the Restaurant
The Xi Jinping restaurant serves a broad selection of Chinese dishes alongside some South Korean items, according to menu screenshots shared online. Its Google rating averages about four out of five stars.
Key facts: Incident date: 24 September; Estimated damage: ~15 million won; Suspects: Four Chinese nationals, aged 20–40; Possible leads: Shanghai and Yantai; Police action: Requesting Interpol red notices.
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