82-Year-Old South Korean Man Dies After Choking on 'Live Octopus' Delicacy

Man succumbs to heart attack after choking on controversial 'san-nakji' dish; several similar cases reported over the years in South Korea.

An 82-year-old South Korean man died of a heart attack after choking on a delicacy known as san-nakji, in which a live octopus is sliced and served immediately, causing the tentacles to wiggle due to active nerves.
The controversial delicacy, often served with sesame oil and sesame seeds, has been linked to several choking incidents in South Korea.
The episode mirrors a subset of similar incidents, including three choking deaths linked to the dish between 2007 and 2012, two in 2013, and one involving a man in his 70s in 2019.
The dish's reputation has been fueled by its feature in international media, including an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s 'Parts Unknown' series and its depiction in the 2004 South Korean film 'Oldboy.'
A well-publicized case labeled 'Octopus Murder' occurred in 2012, when a man claimed his girlfriend’s death was due to a san-nakji accident; he was acquitted of murder by the Supreme Court due to lack of evidence in 2013.