Michelin chef faces jail for ants on Seoul dessert
South Korean prosecutors sought a one-year jail term for a two-Michelin-star Seoul restaurateur accused of using banned ants as a dessert garnish. Officials say tens of thousands of ants imported from the US and Thailand were served over nearly four years, breaking laws that allow only 10 insect species as food.
Key Takeaways
- Prosecutors asked for one year in prison for the owner and a 20 million won fine for the restaurant corporation.
- Ants are not among the 10 insects approved for eating under South Korea's Food Sanitation Act.
- Authorities say about 12,000 ant-topped desserts were sold from April 2021 to January 2025, worth roughly 120 million won.
- Health officials reported the ants held up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical edible insects.
- A verdict is due on 2 September at Seoul Western District Court.
The case centers on a palate-cleansing sorbet finished with black ants "to add a sour taste," according to food-safety officials cited by local media. The unnamed Gangnam fine-dining spot holds two Michelin stars and is linked to a chef who rose to wider fame on Netflix's Culinary Class Wars—a detail that has pushed the dispute into Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
Court papers reviewed by outlets including the BBC did not publicly name the owner. Prosecutors still framed the alleged Food Sanitation Act breach as serious because of how long it ran and the heavy-metal findings.
Why are ants illegal to serve in South Korea?
South Korean rules clear only 10 insect species for human consumption. That approved list includes grasshoppers, locusts, two-spotted crickets, and brown mealworm larvae, among others. Ants are not on it.
Regulators weigh food-safety risks, toxicity, nutrition, and whether insects can be bred and processed hygienically before adding a species. Serving ants as food therefore violates the Food Sanitation Act, regardless of how common edible ants are in other countries.
How did the banned ants dessert come to light?
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety opened a probe after diners posted online reviews and photos of dishes sprinkled with ants. Investigators later estimated some 49,000 ants—imported from the United States and Thailand—were used across several dishes over four years.
Officials said chefs typically placed three to five ants on the icy dessert. Evidence released by the ministry included a tin labeled "Cuisine Black Ants." Prosecutors told the Seoul Western District Court the restaurant sold the sherbet about 12,200 times and earned about 120 million won ($81,000).
What has the Michelin-starred restaurateur said in court?
The owner admitted ants were served but said they were only a small garnish on a 15-course menu and that guests could refuse them. Defense lawyers argued diners consented in advance; about 60% chose the ants, while others received fermented vinegar or edible flowers instead.
In a closing statement reported by local media, the defendant apologized, saying the episode stemmed from failing to fully understand the regulations. The restaurant also noted it already held two Michelin stars before the controversy and argued the garnish did not drive sales. The court is set to rule on 2 September.