Gangnam Famous Japanese Chef Under Police Investigation for Alleged Sexual Assault of Female Employee

A chef operating a famous restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, is under police investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a female employee.

According to a report from MBC on the 13th, Chef A from a Japanese omakase restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, is being investigated by police, and there are also allegations of verbal abuse and physical violence against other employees.

On the 7th of last month, Chef A is accused of sexually assaulting a female employee who was intoxicated. CCTV footage from that time showed a man watching a woman, who was sitting on the street inebriated, assisting her and taking her somewhere.

The victim reported to the media that she experienced a horrific incident that day. She stated, "A said, 'I fell for you the first day I interviewed you,' and I don't remember how I got into the room. When I realized something felt off, I found out that I had been sexually assaulted."

She continued, "The first incident occurred a week after I started working. After that, he continued with the sexual violence, including coming to the bathroom while I was cleaning and committing further assaults."

As a result, the woman reported Chef A to the police on the 24th of last month. The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul secured hotel CCTV footage and notified Chef A to appear as a suspect in a quasi-rape investigation.

Chef Engaging in Verbal and Physical Abuse Towards Restaurant Staff

There are also indications that Chef A engaged in verbal abuse and physical violence towards restaurant staff. Recorded testimonies from former employees, obtained by the media, included cursing and the sound of something being hit.

According to the recordings, a man presumed to be Chef A shouted at an employee, "Do you know how many times I've said this? Do you want to get hit? Are you not concentrating?"

He further yelled, "Because your son did this and that, I will ask for permission from your parents to beat him up. Make sure to write down my phone number here. Got it? XX's XX just…"

An employee who previously worked at Chef A's restaurant stated, "Chef A threatened to kill me every time a mistake was made, even if it was just one or two mistakes," adding that he also said, "I have four lawyers. I will make sure you can't work in this industry."

Currently, Chef A is denying the allegations of sexual violence, stating to the media, "I did not commit any sexual assault." He did not respond to questions regarding the verbal and physical abuse.

Image source: youtube 'mbc news' capture