"I’m Now Afraid of Chinese People"... Chinese Restaurant Owner Appeals After Being Threatened Over Sign

Chinese National Threatened Restaurant Owner Two Years Ago Over Name
Complaint Withdrawn After Receiving 4.5 Million Won Settlement

While the Chinese restaurant "Xi Jinping" in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, was subjected to a lacquer attack by Chinese individuals, it was belatedly revealed that another Chinese restaurant in Hwaseong was threatened by a Chinese man because of its name, "Myeolgong Banjeom" (literally "Anti-Communism Restaurant").

Exterior view of Myeolgong Banjeom, reportedly threatened by Chinese individuals. Channel A capture

According to Channel A on the 29th, Mr. Yoo, who runs "Myeolgong Banjeom" in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, was approached two years ago by a Chinese customer who offered him money if he would take down the restaurant's sign. The customer said, "I'll give you money if you take down the Myeolgong Banjeom sign." The word "Myeolgong" means "destruction of communism."

However, when Mr. Yoo refused the offer, the Chinese man changed his attitude and started to threaten him, saying, "Think of your family." He repeatedly tried to intimidate Mr. Yoo, suggesting he had people behind him, saying, "I'm someone sent from there. Even if I don't come here, there are plenty of people like me who can be sent."

Unable to endure the threats, Mr. Yoo reported the man to the police. Later, through mediation by the investigative authorities, Mr. Yoo withdrew the complaint this past April in exchange for receiving 4.5 million won from the Chinese man. Prosecutors are reportedly considering whether to indict the Chinese man for threatening Mr. Yoo.

Mr. Yoo recently said that the memory came back to him after hearing about the recent lacquer attack case and confessed, "I'm scared when I see Chinese people. These days, I even carry a police baton when I go out to dispose of food waste."

Earlier, at dawn on the 24th, four masked assailants broke into the Chinese restaurant "Xi Jinping," sprayed black paint on the entrance and the sign, and damaged various equipment and property.

The restaurant’s management explained that they had previously received complaints about their name's similarity to the top Chinese leader and, fearing further harm, they have decided to change the name, which they had used for eight years. According to the police investigation, the suspects left for China by air on the day of the crime. On the 28th, the police requested arrest warrants for them.

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