25.08.07.Today News : Customer Assaults Restaurant Owner Over Sewol Ferry Memorial Message

Customer Assaults Restaurant Owner Over Sewol Ferry Memorial Message

• Man in his 40s attacks restaurant owner in Incheon, claiming offense over a Sewol Ferry tribute; victim suffers orbital fracture

A restaurant owner in Incheon was violently assaulted by a customer who took issue with a memorial message for the Sewol Ferry tragedy displayed outside the establishment. The assailant claimed to be a bereaved family member of the tragedy, but the victim later confirmed with actual families that the man was unknown to them. The case highlights how social and political tensions continue to spill over into private business spaces.

A customer assaulted a restaurant owner for displaying a memorial message for the Sewol ferry disaster.

Around 11:30 p.m. on July 28, a man in his 40s assaulted a restaurant owner in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. The incident stemmed from a sign at the restaurant’s entrance that read, “We will remember the Sewol Ferry forever.”

According to the victim, Mr. Yeom Gyu-won, the man suddenly began shouting, “Why are you using the Sewol tragedy to profit from your business?” Mr. Yeom said he tried to de-escalate the situation, but the man hit his shoulder and then violently grabbed his face.

Even after police were called, the assailant continued to shake Mr. Yeom’s head, point fingers at him aggressively, and pinch him. Mr. Yeom was diagnosed with an orbital fracture and other injuries requiring three weeks of recovery.

The attacker claimed to be a bereaved family member of the Sewol victims, but Mr. Yeom visited actual families in Ansan, who stated they had never seen or heard of the man.

The restaurant had previously faced backlash after displaying a message calling for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, suggesting that public displays of political or social statements continue to provoke conflict.

Incheon’s Namdong Police are currently investigating the man for assault. They stated that witnesses were present and the suspect admitted to the physical violence, but added that there would be no separate investigation into the Sewol Ferry-related aspect of the incident.

One-line summary : A customer assaulted a restaurant owner in Incheon over a Sewol Ferry memorial message, causing injuries requiring three weeks of recovery.