Prosecutors in South Korea have asked a court to sentence the owner of a two-Michelin-starred Seoul restaurant to one year in prison for serving a sorbet dessert garnished with ants — an insect not approved for human consumption under the country's food safety law. A 20 million won (approximately £10,100) fine has also been sought against the company operating the restaurant. Sentencing is scheduled for 2 September.
The restaurant, located in Gangnam, Seoul's upmarket commercial and dining district, is alleged to have imported two varieties of dried ants from the United States and Thailand between 2021 and early 2025, using them as a topping for palate-cleansing sorbets. Prosecutors estimate the ant-topped dish was served around 12,200 times, with roughly 49,000 ants used in total, generating about 120 million won (around $81,000) in revenue. Each portion was garnished with three to five ants, chosen for their natural acidity. Health authorities also reported that the ants used contained up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical approved edible insects. The case came to light not through routine inspection but after officials at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety noticed customer reviews and photographs circulating on social media and in blog posts.
Under South Korean law, only 10 insect species are approved for use as food ingredients, among them grasshoppers, mealworms, silkworm pupae and two-spotted crickets. Ants do not appear on the approved list. Businesses wishing to use an unapproved insect must obtain temporary regulatory approval — a step the restaurant did not take. Violating the food sanitation act carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a 50 million won fine.
The restaurant's defence raised several mitigating arguments. The owner, who reportedly acknowledged using the ants, said they featured in only a small number of courses within a 15-course tasting menu, and that diners were always offered alternatives such as fermented vinegar or edible flowers. The defence also contested prosecutors' figures, arguing that only around 60% of customers actually accepted the ant garnish. The chef's legal team noted that he had worked in the United States and Europe, where using ants in fine dining is not uncommon — restaurants in Denmark, the UK and Australia do so — and that he had been unaware the practice was illegal in South Korea. The owner reportedly told the court: