Owner of Michelin-Starred Restaurant Fined 15 Million Won for Using Ants as Food

A South Korean court has imposed a fine of 10 million won (£5,400) on the operator of Evett, a two-Michelin-star restaurant in the affluent Gangnam district, and its chief executive, Ginny Kim, 15 million won for serving a dessert topped with ants. The ants, not approved for consumption under local food safety law, were used in a sorbet made with sikhye, a sweet Korean rice drink, and were allegedly served to 12,274 customers between April 2021 and January 2025, generating a total revenue of approximately 120 million won.

Prosecutors had sought a one-year prison term for Kim and a 20 million won fine for the operator. However, the judge at Seoul’s western district court, Lee Se-chang, deemed the offence serious due to the long duration of the dishes being sold, the restaurant's use of ants to promote itself, and the presence of heavy metals above permitted levels in the insects.

He also noted that the defendants admitted the offence, Kim had no previous criminal record under food safety law, and the number of ants served was lower than initially calculated. The restaurant no longer uses ants. Ants are used as a food ingredient in the US and Europe, and Evett's chef, Joseph Lidgerwood, was not a defendant or charged.

Under South Korean food safety law, the operator, registered as Ginny Kim in this case, is held responsible. Only 10 insect species are approved as food ingredients in South Korea, and the restaurant did not obtain temporary approval for the unapproved ants. Violating the law can result in a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a 50 million won fine.

The investigation was launched after the ministry saw mentions of the ant dishes in blog posts and social media.