However, despite the potential allure of this dish to some, a tragic incident occurred when an elderly gentleman lost his life due to choking on one of these tentacles.
From CNN:
Fire station authorities in Gwangju, a city near the country’s southern tip, received a report on Monday morning that a piece of san-nakji had become stuck in a man’s throat, according to a fire station official.
When first responders arrived on site, the man had a cardiac arrest, and they conducted CPR, the official said.
The official did not say whether the man survived.
San-nakji refers to a small octopus that is sliced and served raw, often eaten in South Korea’s coastal areas or seafood markets.
Though the dish’s name translates to “live octopus,” this is slightly misleading – the octopus is killed before serving, with its tentacles cut into portions.
However, it is served immediately after slicing, and is so fresh that the tentacles’ nerves are still active – causing the octopus to appear “live” as it continues moving on the plate.
San-nakji is often served with sesame oil, sesame seeds, and sometimes ginger, and has a chewy texture.
The circumstances surrounding this man's death remain somewhat unclear.
It appears that choking is a possibility, although there's also talk of a potential heart attack.
Regardless, you couldn't pay me to eat something like this. Besides the health hazards, I just can't wrap my head around why someone would want to eat live, moving tentacles.
Sounds absolutely awful.
