"Miryang Sexual Assault Perpetrator Confirmed as Nephew Baek Jong-won Visits Cheongdo Gukbap Restaurant, Ultimately Demolished"

A Banner Reading 'Apology' Hung Under the Signboard
Famous as the Restaurant Visited by Baek Jong-won Over Two Years Ago

The gukbap restaurant in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, known as the workplace of a perpetrator involved in the 2004 group sexual assault case of a middle school girl in Miryang, Gyeongnam, has finally been demolished. The owner posted an apology letter stating, "We apologize for causing social unrest." On the 5th, an online community, Bobae Dream, featured a post titled "Cheongdo Gukbap Restaurant Live." The author, Mr. A, shared two photos along with a brief comment, "I just passed by and saw this." The photos revealed the gukbap restaurant, known as the workplace of one of the perpetrators in the Miryang group sexual assault case, being torn down. A banner labeled "Apology Letter" was hung below the signboard.

The gukbap restaurant in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, known as the workplace of the perpetrator involved in the group sexual assault of a middle school girl that occurred in 2004 in Miryang, Gyeongnam, has finally been demolished. The owner posted an apology stating, "We are sorry for causing social controversy." [Photo by online community 'BobaeDream']

The restaurant side began by saying, "We are truly sorry. First, the wrong employee, Park ○○, is indeed our nephew." They continued, "We sincerely apologize and feel deeply sorry for causing social unrest through his employment," adding, "We also apologize for operating in an unauthorized building and will comply with legal measures. Once again, we express our apologies."

Previously, after a video exposing the perpetrator was released, it became controversial when it was revealed that Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, had visited the restaurant about two years ago. Netizens raised suspicions that the building was an illegal structure, and on the 3rd, Cheongdo County issued a demolition order and other related legal actions against the restaurant for violating building regulations.

The restaurant announced, "As of June 3rd, we will temporarily close to expand and relocate the store," and promised, "We will greet you again with a better appearance," before suspending operations. However, the demolition occurred less than a week after the controversy erupted. Netizens responded with comments such as, "Demolishing it is not the end. The tax authorities should conduct a tax investigation," "We need to check where the new store will open," and "It feels relieving to see the future of the perpetrators."

The Miryang group sexual assault case involved 44 high school students from the Miryang area who lured a middle school girl from Ulsan to Miryang in December 2004 and sexually assaulted her continuously for a year. They also assaulted the victim's younger sister and extorted money. The Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office indicted 10 of the 44 perpetrators (7 detained, 3 not detained). Twenty were sent to juvenile detention centers. The remaining perpetrators were either settled with the victim or not included in the complaint, resulting in a "no prosecution" decision. Furthermore, public outrage resurfaced as it was revealed during the investigation that the police verbally abused the victim and the perpetrators' parents threatened her.

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