Im Sung-geun, the Korean chef who shot to fame on Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars 2,” has acknowledged a history of drunk driving and announced he’s stepping away from television.
In an interview published on the 20th by the weekly Ilgan Sports, Im said, “I fully accept my past wrongdoing and will no longer appear on broadcast.” He noted that as alcohol-related sponsorships piled up, he became increasingly uneasy. “The more attention I got, the more scared I felt. After filming alcohol PPL and getting a rush of ad offers, I worried that, if things blew up like they did, the brands I worked with would take the hit,” he said, adding, “There’s no excuse for drunk driving―it’s entirely my fault.”
Lim’s warm delivery and quick wit on “Culinary Class Wars 2” had made him a top target for variety shows across the dial.
But he landed in hot water after revealing on YouTube that he’d been caught driving under the influence three times over roughly a decade. Further criticism mounted when Ilgan Sports questioned whether the confession was timed to soften public backlash.
Addressing that point, Im said the video had been scheduled in advance for January 18. “It wasn’t an attempt to block the article,” he said. “I’m sorry it came across that way.” He drew a firm line against additional claims, including allegations of mistreating business partners.
Im plans to forgo future TV appearances aside from a pre-taped home-shopping segment. He’ll continue running his restaurant as his main focus and keep his YouTube channel active to share recipes that can help small business owners. He’s also preparing a separate apology video. “I want to lay everything out clearly and apologize again to avoid any misunderstandings,” he said.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)