'Terror at 2:40 a.m.'... Suspects Wrecked and Fled After an Hour in Bundang Chinese Restaurant Ordeal

Pesticide and Insecticide Containers Found; Police Pursue Suspects
Owner: "Received Complaints About Using Name of Chinese Public Figure"

In the middle of the night, two unidentified individuals broke into a Chinese restaurant in Bundang District, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, doused the premises with paint, damaged fixtures and equipment, and then fled. Police have launched an investigation.

According to Yonhap News Agency and Bundang Police Station on September 24, a restaurant owner in his 30s, referred to as Mr. A, called 112 at around 8:30 a.m. that day, reporting, "Someone broke into the store and damaged equipment inside." When police arrived at the scene, they found that the shop's glass windows had been shattered. The POS terminal at the counter and the chairs showed marks that appeared to have been made with a sharp object. Black liquid had been sprayed throughout the interior of the restaurant, and several containers of pesticide and insecticide—presumed to have been left by the suspects—were also found. All electronic devices in the store reportedly stopped working.

Outside view of a Chinese restaurant in Bundang District, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, vandalized with paint. Provided by Mr. A, Yonhap News Agency

Mr. A told the police that the containers were empty and that there was a suspicious smell coming from some of the food ingredients stored nearby, suggesting that the suspects may have sprayed these substances onto the ingredients. Closed-circuit (CC)TV footage from inside the store showed two individuals, believed to be male, committing the act at around 2:40 a.m. on the same day while wearing masks. According to reports, they sprayed paint on the glass window displaying the store’s name outside, broke open the reinforced glass back door, and continued damaging the interior for about an hour.

There was no security alarm at the store, so Mr. A only became aware of the damage after the building manager notified him in the morning.

Mr. A said that, while there are no clear suspects, he believes it is possible the crime was committed by people upset about the restaurant’s name being the same as that of a prominent figure from China.

Mr. A told Yonhap News Agency by phone, "I have operated the restaurant under the same name for eight years, but starting a few months ago, I began receiving protest calls and visits from people taking issue with the name." He added, "Two months ago, someone sprayed black paint on the sign and fled. I reported it to the police, but they said it would be difficult to track the perpetrator due to limited surveillance footage." Mr. A claimed that he expects losses exceeding 10 million won (KRW 10,000,000) from operating disruption and restoration costs.

The police are analyzing CCTV footage from around the scene to trace the suspects’ movement. They have also completed an on-site investigation inside the restaurant and plan to determine whether pesticide or insecticide was indeed sprayed on any food ingredients.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.