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Government data released on Aug. 5 showed the restaurants committed a total of 21 violations between 2023 and 2025, The Korea Herald reported citing a report by Representative Seo Young-seok of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea based on figures from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The most common offense was failing to complete mandatory food sanitation training, accounting for seven cases, The Korea Times reported.

Five restaurants did not report changes to their business registration, while four were cited for violating food standards and specifications.

Authorities also recorded three cases of improper sanitary handling and two cases in which employees had not undergone required health examinations.

The findings come as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety intensifies inspections of popular eateries.

In June alone, authorities inspected 1,720 restaurants nationwide and discovered food safety violations at 45 of them, The Straits Times reported.

South Korea has developed one of Asia’s leading fine-dining destinations, with the 2026 Michelin Guide recognizing 46 Michelin-starred restaurants across Seoul and Busan.

The selection showcases a diverse culinary landscape, ranging from traditional Korean haute cuisine to innovative vegan concepts and contemporary international fusion restaurants.

Last month, the owner of a South Korean restaurant holding two Michelin stars faced one year in jail for garnishing a palate-cleansing sorbet with black ants, AFP reported.

Under South Korean law, only 10 insect species are approved for human consumption, including grasshoppers and brown mealworm larvae.

But the restaurant, which holds two prized Michelin stars, is accused of serving the forbidden insects imported from Thailand and the U.S.