Gangnam Restaurant Identified as 'Chinese Secret Police Station' "Exposing Vile Forces"

Chinese Restaurant Suspected as 'Secret Base', Displays on Electronic Billboard
"Major Announcement for Truth This Week"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] In connection with allegations that China is operating 'secret police stations' around the world to suppress dissidents, a Chinese restaurant located in the Gangnam area of Seoul, identified as a base in South Korea, has announced a 'revelation' about corrupt companies.

Since the morning of the 28th, the restaurant has displayed messages on an external electronic billboard stating, "A major announcement for the truth" and "Exposing the ugly forces that conceal sincerity."

A Chinese restaurant identified as a domestic base for China's overseas 'secret police station' displayed a message denying the allegations on an electronic billboard on the morning of the 28th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

It also alternates messages in Korean and Chinese such as "Corrupt companies are controlling public opinion with money and mocking the Korean people," "They are manipulating Korean politics to destroy Korea-China friendship," and "All restaurant employees and their families are under threat to their lives, and we earnestly request police protection."

The restaurant announced that at the end of this month, Mr. W, the restaurant’s representative and an executive of a Chinese organization in Korea, will make a statement at the restaurant. However, the specific entities referred to as the "ugly forces" or "corrupt companies" in the messages have not been disclosed.

Chinese Secret Police Station in the Heart of Seoul?

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Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, the international human rights organization Safeguard Defenders revealed in September that China is operating more than 102 secret police stations called 'Overseas 110 Service Stations' in 53 countries worldwide, mainly in Europe.

It is known that one such station has been established in South Korea, and suspicions have been raised that the location in question is a Chinese restaurant in the Gangnam area of Seoul.

China denies the existence of these 'secret police stations,' and the restaurant also completely denies the allegations. However, suspicions grew as the restaurant announced it would temporarily close for interior renovations starting January 1 of next year.

The government has launched a joint investigation led by the National Intelligence Service as the control tower, deploying military and police counterintelligence organizations, but maintains a cautious stance, stating that "verifying the facts comes first."

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "We are paying close attention to related developments regarding the Chinese restaurant allegations and are communicating with relevant agencies as needed," adding, "The government’s position is that foreign agencies’ activities within the country must comply with domestic laws and international norms."

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