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| Eight Chinese tourists on Jeju Island were arrested Saturday for allegedly attacking and injuring four Koreans, including a restaurant owner who stopped them drinking alcohol they brought from outside. / Courtesy of YouTube |
By Hong Dam-young
Police have arrested eight Chinese tourists on Jeju Island for allegedly bashing four Koreans, including a restaurant owner.
The tourists ― six men and two women ― were arrested Saturday for allegedly assaulting and injuring the Korean restaurant owner and three others, Jeju Seobu Police Station said on Monday.
The incident happened at the restaurant in the Yeondong district of Jeju.
Police said the tourists became angry when the restaurant owner, surnamed Ahn, 53, stopped them from drinking alcohol they had brought with them. They had placed their order but then decided to leave.
The tourists allegedly attacked the owner when she asked them to pay for the food. Police said they kicked her in the stomach and attempted to attack her with a bottle of alcohol.
The tourists were also accused of beating three others in the restaurant who tried to stop them, including Ahn's son.
Ahn is being treated in hospital after signs of bleeding into her brain. Another victim is suffering facial fractures.
Police said they arrested all eight at the scene. They are planning to ask a local court to issue formal warrants to arrest five of the suspects who arrived on the island two days before the incident, according to Yonhap news agency.
The other three were banned from traveling over fears they might flee, police said.
"The number of crimes committed by foreigners is rapidly increasing on the island," a police official said.
"We will firmly exercise governmental authority to make sure foreign tourists don't get away with committing crimes."
