Korean Police Seek Warrants for Four Suspects in Seongnam Restaurant Vandalism
Police plan to seek detention warrants for four Chinese men suspected of vandalizing a restaurant in Seongnam and contaminating food ingredients before leaving South Korea.
South Korean police said Monday they plan to seek detention warrants for four Chinese men suspected of breaking into and vandalizing a restaurant in Seongnam before leaving the country for China.
The suspects, who are in their 20s to 40s, are accused of entering the restaurant early Thursday and spraying lacquer and paint across both the exterior and interior. Investigators also suspect that food ingredients at the establishment were contaminated with a substance believed to be pesticide.
The restaurant, located in Seongnam just south of Seoul, is named after Chinese President Xi Jinping. Police have not announced a motive, and the allegations against the four men have not been adjudicated in court.
An official from the Korean National Police Agency said investigators intended to file for the detention warrants on Monday. The agency said it would coordinate with Chinese authorities through its International Cooperation Bureau because the suspects are no longer in South Korea.
According to police, the four men briefly returned to their accommodations in Seoul after the incident and then departed for China through Incheon International Airport later that day. Authorities said they have identified the suspects.
Police may request Interpol Red Notices if courts issue the detention warrants. A Red Notice asks law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending extradition or similar legal action, but it is not itself an international arrest warrant. Police said it remains uncertain how far China would go in cooperating with any effort to return the men to South Korea.
The investigation is therefore moving into a cross-border phase. Obtaining domestic warrants would provide the legal basis for South Korean authorities to pursue further international cooperation, while any transfer of the suspects would depend on additional procedures and decisions by authorities in China.
The case also raises public-safety concerns because the alleged damage extended beyond property to food ingredients. Investigators have described the substance as presumed pesticide, meaning its identity and the full circumstances still require confirmation. Police have not disclosed whether anyone consumed the affected ingredients or suffered injuries.
Further steps will depend on the court's decision on the warrant requests and the response of Chinese law enforcement authorities.