Michelin-starred South Korean restaurant faces legal action for serving ants in dessert
Consensus Summary
A Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea’s Gangnam district is facing legal consequences for serving ants in a dessert, despite the insects not being approved for human consumption under local law. Both the Guardian and ABC report that the restaurant, which holds two Michelin stars, served the ant-topped dessert approximately 12,000 to 12,200 times over a period spanning from 2021, with the ABC specifying the timeline as April 2021 to January 2025. The investigation was triggered by social media and blog posts, and the court is set to deliver its verdict on 2 September. The restaurant, Evett, was founded in 2019 by Australian chef Joseph Lidgerwood, who is not a defendant but a shareholder. Prosecutors allege the ants were illegally imported from Thailand and the United States, while the restaurant claims they were imported through official customs procedures. The Guardian notes the prosecution sought a 20m won fine and one year in prison, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a 50m won fine, while the ABC focuses on the restaurant’s defence that the ants were an optional garnish in a multi-course menu.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A Michelin-starred restaurant in Seoul’s Gangnam district served a dessert topped with ants, which are not approved for consumption under South Korean law
- Only 10 insect species are approved for human consumption in South Korea, excluding ants
- The restaurant served the ant-topped dessert approximately 12,000 to 12,200 times
- The restaurant’s investigation was triggered by social media and blog posts mentioning the ant dishes
- The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on 2 September
- The restaurant imported dried ants from the United States and Thailand from 2021
- The restaurant holds two Michelin stars
- The restaurant’s 15-course menu included dishes with ants as an optional garnish
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Prosecutors sought a 20m won (£10,108) fine for the company and one year in prison for the owner, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a 50m won fine under South Korean law
- Prosecutors estimated about 49,000 ants were used in total, though the defence argued only about 60% of customers accepted the ant topping
- The restaurant served the ant-topped dessert for around four years, generating about 120m won (£60,647) in revenue
- The restaurant’s chef had used ants in dishes while working in the US and Europe but was unaware of South Korea’s restrictions
- The restaurant, Evett, was founded by Australian chef Joseph Lidgerwood in 2019 and earned its two-star Michelin rating in 2025's Michelin Guide
- The restaurant claimed the ants were imported through official customs procedures and were not prohibited from being imported, though they were not on the approved list for commercial food service
- The restaurant stated that the ants were served as a small, optional garnish in one course of a multi-course tasting menu, not as a standalone dish
- The restaurant’s defence noted that the ants were served between April 2021 and January 2025, with prosecutors alleging 'three to five' ants were used per dish to add sourness
- The restaurant’s founder, Joseph Lidgerwood, is not a defendant and has not been charged, though he is a shareholder and director of the company
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the restaurant served the ant-topped dessert for around four years, while the ABC specifies the period as from April 2021 to January 2025
- The Guardian reports the restaurant served the dessert 12,200 times, while the ABC reports 12,000 times
- The Guardian mentions a 20m won fine and one year in prison as the prosecution’s request, while the ABC does not specify the exact penalty sought by prosecutors
Source Articles
Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea faces jail for serving ants in dessert
Fine of 20m won (£10,108) could also be imposed for serving insect not approved for consumption under local law Prosecutors in South Korea have asked a court to sentence the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant to one year in prison for serving a dessert topped with ants, an insect not approved for consumption under local food safety law. The request, made on Monday, also sought a 20m won (£10,108) fine for the company that runs the restaurant, Yonhap news agency reported . Continue reading...
Australian-founded restaurant at centre of South Korean court case over ant garnish
Seoul prosecutors have alleged Evett in Seoul's Gangnam district served ants illegally imported from Thailand and the US in violation of food safety regulations.