Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2024: Busan’s First Stars

The Michelin Guide unveiled its Seoul & Busan 2024 selection on 21 February 2024, the first edition to include Busan. Three restaurants in South Korea’s second city received one star, in a guide covering 222 restaurants: 177 in Seoul, now in its eighth edition, and 43 in Busan.

Busan’s first starred tables span three styles. Mori, a Japanese restaurant led by chef Kim Wan-gyu, and Palate, a contemporary restaurant from chef Kim Jae-hoon, each earned one star. Fiotto, an Italian restaurant run by a chef-owner couple, took one star and a Michelin Green Star, with more than 90 per cent of its ingredients sourced locally. The city’s list is completed by 15 Bib Gourmand restaurants and 25 recommended addresses.

“We are thrilled to unveil Busan’s inaugural selection, marking a significant milestone as we continue to witness the dynamic evolution of culinary excellence in Korea,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides.

In Seoul, the capital’s starred count reached 33. Two restaurants moved up to two stars: Mitou, the Japanese restaurant of chefs Kwon Young-woon and Kim Bo-mi, and Restaurant Allen, the contemporary table of chef Seo Hyun-min. Three new one-star restaurants joined the list: Vinho, from chef Jeon Seong-bin; Haobin, the Chinese restaurant of chef Hu Deok-juk; and L’Impression, led by chef Yoon Tae-gyun. Seoul also counted 57 Bib Gourmand restaurants, six of them new.

Special awards went to Vinho’s Kim Jin-ho, who received the Sommelier Award, and to Hu Deok-juk of Haobin, who took the Mentor Chef Award after more than 50 years in the kitchen. The Service Award went to the team at Eatanic Garden, the contemporary Korean restaurant at Josun Palace in Gangnam. The full list is on the Michelin Guide website.