A lobster with its lower body severed, holding an envelope and a flower in its claws, is seen waving its claws on a plate, served at a restaurant in Seoul. Captured from online community

A restaurant in central Seoul's Jongno District has drawn criticism after a video surfaced online showing a dismembered lobster with a crown placed on its head, still moving its claws and legs on a dining plate.

Several online communities posted a video on Sunday titled, "The Lobster Restaurant Causing a Stir on Instagram for Being Bizarre." The video, which was posted by A, a participant from a popular dating reality show, quickly spread across social media, sparking severe criticism from netizens.

In the video, A and a companion are seen dining at the restaurant where they ordered the lobster. The lobster, with its lower body completely severed, is shown with a crown on its head, struggling on a large plate.

In addition to the crown, each claw of the lobster was adorned with a letter and a single flower. A captioned the video with, "We had the 'Lobster Cheers Course,' where the lobster greeted us with a cheer. Thanks to the lobster, we enjoyed a delicious butter-grilled dish."

While a few online viewers found the video amusing, the majority condemned the act. Comments ranged from "It's disturbing to find enjoyment in watching an animal in pain" to "This is a violation of the dignity of life. How can they crown a lobster writhing in pain and think it's entertaining?"

Severed lobster served with letter and flower at a Seoul restaurant / Captured from online community

Laws on animal protection

Unlike South Korea, where crustaceans like lobsters are not protected under current animal welfare laws, several advanced countries have taken steps to protect these animals.

Scientific studies have shown that crustaceans, including lobsters, crabs and octopuses, can experience pain.

Consequently, some countries have enacted laws that regulate how these creatures are cooked, ensuring they are humanely killed before being prepared.

Switzerland amended its animal protection laws in 2018, prohibiting the cooking of live lobsters.

According to the new regulations, lobsters must be stunned electrically or have their brains mechanically destroyed before being boiled.

This change was prompted by scientific evidence suggesting that crustaceans have complex nervous systems and experience severe pain when placed in boiling water while still alive.

Countries like Norway and New Zealand have also banned the practice of cooking live crustaceans.

In the U.K., a 2021 study by researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) reviewed over 300 studies measuring the perceptual abilities of crustaceans.

The study concluded that, unlike other invertebrates, crustaceans and cephalopods possess complex central nervous systems, a key characteristic of sentient beings. As a result, the U.K. has banned the shipment of live lobsters.

In contrast, South Korea's current Animal Protection Act does not extend its protection to invertebrates like crustaceans and cephalopods. The law currently only applies to vertebrates with well-developed nervous systems capable of feeling pain.

South Korea's Animal Protection Act does not extend its protection to invertebrates like crustaceans and cephalopods. Gettyimagebank

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.