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Man sent to prosecutors after allegedly stabbing victim with chopsticks, potentially blinding him

Published: 04 Apr. 2026, 12:47 Updated: 05 Apr. 2026, 18:59

A screenshot from surveillance footage released by local broadcaster Channel A shows a suspect assaulting a victim outside a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on March 27. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A Chinese national has been referred to prosecutors after allegedly attacking a group of Korean men in Seoul, stabbing one victim in the eye with chopsticks, after believing they were mocking him. The victim suffered damage to the optic nerve and now faces the risk of losing his sight.

According to police on Saturday, the Yeongdeungpo Police Precinct transferred the suspect to prosecutors in late March on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault.

The attack took place on March 27 outside a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo District in western Seoul. According to surveillance footage released by local broadcaster Channel A, the man approached a parked vehicle, opened the rear door and struck a passenger. When the driver stepped out, the suspect also began punching him.

Moments later, the suspect approached them again and struck them with a weapon. The suspect then used chopsticks taken from a nearby restaurant to stab the fallen victim in the face.

Police said the suspect had been drinking at the same bar as the victims and believed they were laughing at him. He waited for them to come outside before carrying out the attack.

The victim suffered severe injuries to the face and optic nerve and is being treated in an intensive care unit. He is reportedly at high risk of permanent blindness.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JANG GU-SEUL [[email protected]]