Im Sung-geun, the Korean chef who rose to mainstream fame on Netflix’s "Culinary Class Wars" Season 2, publicly admitted to three drunk-driving offenses ― but a new report says court records list four.
According to a Jan. 20 report by the Dong-A Ilbo, a court ruling shows Im was fined 5 million won for drunk driving in September 1999. The documents also state he was caught on Aug. 15 of the same year driving roughly 3 kilometers in Incheon’s Bupyeong District to the Seo District with a blood alcohol level of 0.153%. The ruling further notes he operated his wife’s motorcycle without a license.
The incidents took place while Im was already under a suspended sentence. In March 1998, he received an eight-month prison term suspended for two years for violating traffic laws. He appealed, but the case was dismissed in April 2000, and he served 37 days in detention tied to the matter.
The outlet adds that court documents cite additional drunk-driving convictions in 2009 and 2017, with fines of 2 million won and 3 million won, respectively. In 2020, Im was convicted again after driving in Seoul’s Guro District (Garibong-dong) with a blood alcohol level of 0.14%, receiving a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years, plus 80 hours of community service and 40 hours of safe-driving education.
Im addressed his past in a YouTube video on Jan. 18, saying he had “about three” incidents over a decade. He apologized and added, “I love to drink, and I made mistakes. The most recent was five to six years ago.” But with court records indicating four cases ― one more than he acknowledged ― critics are questioning the credibility of his confession.
Public reaction is split. Some applaud him for voluntarily coming forward about his past, calling it accountable. Others argue the timing looks strategic, suggesting he rushed a “self-confession” to soften backlash as reporters began digging into his record.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)