A South Korean fast-food chain has issued a statement denying any role in president Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law plot after investigators said plans were hatched over burgers in one of its outlets.

Social media has been flooded with memes poking fun at Lotteria, which has more than 1,600 chains across seven countries, after the alleged link was revealed – including AI-generated posters showing “insurrection burgers” with “a taste that devours an entire country”.

“Shake those flavoured French fries if you want to shake up the nation,” one person wrote on social media. The chain in question in Ansan, south of the capital Seoul, has since been dubbed the “martial law shrine”.

The satirical reviews and memes came after investigators claimed the defence intelligence commander, Moon Sang-ho, met with Noh Sang-won, his predecessor, and two of his colonels at the burger joint two days before president Yoon’s shock announcement of martial law. Mr Noh was arrested late on Wednesday over his alleged involvement.