Restaurateur fatally stabbed by chef who attempts self-immolation during arrest

A Korean-American restaurant owner in the Detroit area of Michigan was brutally murdered by another Korean-American sushi chef who worked at her restaurant.

The suspect fled after the crime and was seriously injured in an attempted self-immolation before being arrested by police.

Heejung Pak, 55, who owned Sushi Q, a Japanese restaurant near Southgate, Michigan, was found stabbed to death in her home at around midnight on March 24, according to the Wyandotte Police Department. Police believe she had been killed on March 21. Upon discovery, Pak reportedly had at least three stab wounds, including to her abdomen.

Police believe that the suspect is 59-year-old Sungho Jin, who worked as a sushi chef at the restaurant. The motive for the crime is under investigation. Jin was arrested by police in the Akron, Ohio, area on March 24 after fleeing south in his car after the crime.

The Akron area is approximately 170 miles south of the crime scene. The suspect, Jin, led police on a car chase. During the chase, Jin briefly exited the vehicle, brandished a knife at officers, and then reentered the vehicle, said an Akron Police Department officer. He then set the vehicle on fire and jumped back out of the vehicle with his body on fire before being arrested.

Jin was taken to a local hospital, where he is currently being treated for burns, according to police.

For now, Pak’s Japanese restaurant is temporarily operated by an acquaintance. According to acquaintances, Pak had owned the Japanese restaurant for seven years. The suspect had been working as a sushi chef at Pak’s restaurant for three years. Pak reportedly hired Jin as a head chef and provided him with accommodation such as an apartment.

“The employees went to her home because she kept not showing up for work and called the police,” Sandra Kim, an acquaintance of the deceased Pak, told the Korea Daily in a phone call on March 27. “Jin was short-tempered and had money problems from gambling, and he even threatened to cut her head with scissors and kill her,” Kim said.

According to acquaintances, Jin’s verbal abuse began in earnest after Pak’s husband passed away last fall from an illness.

“Even if Heejung wanted to fire Jin, it wasn’t easy because it is too difficult to find a sushi man,” Kim said, adding, “She was a good person and took care of her employees like family, so it’s very sad and unbelievable that she left like this.”

“I heard that Jin is from Texas and has a divorced wife and children there,” said a restaurant employee, adding, “His personality has always been difficult to get along with, so there was a lot of friction with other employees at the restaurant.”

Pak’s Sushi Q in Southgate is located about 17 miles southwest of Detroit. The neighborhood is also home to several Korean-American businesses in the auto parts industry.

BY YEOL JANG, HOONSIK WOO    [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]