Laotian Elephants Trash Korean Bacon Shop

by Sohn Hae-yong, Kim Ho-jeong, JoongAng Daily, April 21, 2005

Six elephants from a Laotian circus escaped from Seoul Children’s Grand
Park yesterday, most remaining at large for well over an hour, causing
traffic jams and breaking into restaurants and homes. All were captured
unhurt; a woman was injured.

Around 3 p.m., nine elephants were being paraded past an audience of children
and parents in the park in Gwangjin, northeastern Seoul, when one burst out of
line and fled. Five others followed.

One was caught by trainers just outside the park. Police and firefighters caught
the second about an hour and a half later. Three more were captured by trainers
soon afterward, near Konkuk University.

But as those three were being walked back to the park, they broke free again
and burst into a samgyeopsal (grilled bacon) restaurant, where they overturned
tables as diners fled. The elephants began eating carrots, the report said. A
waitress said she hid in a closet until they left. They were captured in front
of the restaurant.

from (indirectly) Tom
Coyner’s Korea Economic Reader