His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

The owner of a South Korean restaurant with two Michelin stars is facing possible prison time over a sorbet topping: dried ants.

15 across the spectrum. Choose a side on the bar to jump to it.

National story. 17 articles from 16 sources. 15 are on the bar; 1 is an international, entertainment or tech outlet, listed separately. Updated Jul 24, 2026.

How each side is putting it

Left

3 sources
JezebelLeft· Jul 24, 2026

Michelin Chef Facing Jail in South Korea for the Crime of ... Serving Ants on Sorbet

Ran by 4 outlets across the spectrum· Cleveland Plain Dealer, NJ.com / Star-Ledger
Cleveland Plain DealerLean Left· Jul 22, 2026

Award-winning restaurant owner’s menu choice leads to criminal case in South Korea

NJ.com / Star-LedgerLean Left· Jul 22, 2026

Award-winning restaurant owner’s menu choice leads to criminal case in South Korea

Center

10 sources
Ran by 8 outlets· KESQ Palm Springs, KRDO, +6 more
KESQ Palm SpringsCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

KRDOCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

KESQ Palm SpringsCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

Local News 8Center· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

KVIA El PasoCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

KTVZ BendCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

KEYT Santa BarbaraCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

ABC 17 Mid-MissouriCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

KION Central CoastCenter· Jul 23, 2026

His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison

The OregonianCenter· Jul 22, 2026· ran in 4 outlets

Award-winning restaurant owner’s menu choice leads to criminal case in South Korea

BBC NewsCenter· Jul 22, 2026

Michelin-starred restaurateur faces jail for using ants as dessert garnish

Right

2 sources
Fox NewsRight· Jul 23, 2026

Michelin-starred chef facing jail after allegedly serving nearly 50,000 ants to diners

AL.comLean Right· Jul 22, 2026· ran in 4 outlets

Award-winning restaurant owner’s menu choice leads to criminal case in South Korea

Other outlets

International, entertainment and tech outlets, by their rating. Not counted in the bar above. How we count coverage

Left

1 article
The GuardianLean Left· Jul 22, 2026

Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea faces jail for serving ants in dessert

Center

0 articles

None

Right

0 articles

None

The story so far

3 developments
  1. Jul 22Only center coverage:Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea faces jail for serving ants in dessert
  2. Jul 22His restaurant put edible ants on the menu. Now he could face one year in prison
  3. Jul 23Michelin Chef Facing Jail in South Korea for the Crime of ... Serving Ants on Sorbet

Who covered each development

No new developments

Quiet for 86 days

Last development · Jul 23 — Michelin Chef Facing Jail in South Korea for the Crime of ... Serving Ants on Sorbet