South Korea: 17 Michelin-recognized restaurants cited for food safety violations
Between 2023 and 2025, 17 restaurants recognized by the Michelin Guide in South Korea were found in violation of the Food Sanitation Act, totaling 21 infractions.
According to a report released by the South Korean government on August 5, 17 restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide were found in violation of the Food Sanitation Act between 2023 and 2025. The report, disclosed by lawmaker Seo Young Seok of the Democratic Party of Korea, identified a total of 21 infractions at these high-profile establishments.
The most common violations included failure to complete mandatory food safety training (7 cases), failure to report changes in business registration (5 cases), violations of food standards such as the presence of foreign objects (4 cases), failure to maintain hygiene protocols (3 cases), and neglecting mandatory health check-ups for employees (2 cases).
Notably, the list of violators includes both Michelin-starred restaurants and those awarded Bib Gourmand status. Myeongdong Kyoja, a famous noodle and dumpling restaurant in Seoul, has been cited for food standard violations for three consecutive years, while Gwanghwamun Mijin has repeatedly failed to update its business registration details.
Currently, these two establishments have been subjected to administrative surcharges, while other cases have faced monetary fines or mandatory remediation. Prior to this, a national inspection of 1,720 popular restaurants conducted in June by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea also identified 45 facilities failing to meet safety regulations.
Lawmaker Seo Young Seok stated that the occurrence of such violations even at Michelin-recognized establishments highlights significant gaps in the current management system. He urged authorities to strengthen periodic inspections and apply stricter sanctions to protect consumer health and safety.