"Culinary Class Wars" Chef Im Seong Geun Admits to Three Drunk-Driving Cases

Chef Im Seong Geun, one of the most recognizable faces to emerge from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars Season 2, is facing scrutiny after publicly admitting to three drunk-driving incidents from his past. The confession, which surfaced through his own YouTube channel, has prompted mixed reactions from Korean netizens and raised questions about how the revelation could affect his rapidly growing media presence.

According to OSEN, Chef Im addressed his history with alcohol during a video uploaded to his YouTube channel Imjjang TV, where he explained why he has largely stopped drinking. “It’s been about five to six years since I started refraining from alcohol,” he said, before openly acknowledging his past actions. “Since I love drinking, I caused an accident. Over a period of 10 years, I drove under the influence about three times.”

Chef Im went on to describe the circumstances surrounding one of the incidents, explaining, “You know, when you drink, you sleep in the car. I was sleeping in the car when the police caught me.” He added that officers questioned why he was in the driver’s seat with the engine running, saying he later learned that “you should sit with the engine off.”

When the production team pointed out that he was admitting fault, Chef Im responded plainly, “I did wrong, so I accept it.” He continued, “That’s why I received criminal punishment, had my license revoked, and reacquired it.”

He also emphasized that the decision to speak publicly was deliberate. “I don’t want to cover up my mistake,” he said. “It’s right to apologize to my subscribers. I’m not hiding it. I’m sorry to my subscribers for causing unnecessary worry.”

The reaction online was swift and divided. As reported by OSEN, some netizens welcomed the voluntary confession, calling it honest and preferable to having the issue surface later. Others, however, criticized the framing of his explanation, arguing that repeated drunk-driving offenses should have been addressed more firmly in terms of public safety and accountability rather than personal struggle.

Despite the backlash, the timing of the confession is significant. Chef Im’s popularity has been at a peak following Culinary Class Wars Season 2, where he consistently ranked high in buzz and non-drama topicality charts. According to reports, he recently placed first in integrated popularity rankings released by Good Data Corporation’s Fundecks, even surpassing major entertainment figures.

The chef acknowledged that his recent surge in popularity had been difficult to process emotionally. “The sudden overwhelming love became a burden,” he admitted, adding, “Living a busy and tough life, I drank a lot, but I hope you will forgive me generously. I’m grateful for your great love. I will live carefully so as not to cause problems.”

As criticism intensified, Chef Im released a written apology further on Instagram, addressing the issue. In a statement translated by Koreaboo, he wrote, “Drunk driving is my fault and a mistake that cannot be justified for any reason.” He added that at the time of the incidents, he “deeply regretted my actions and accepted legal punishment without complaint,” and spent years reflecting privately.

Explaining why he chose to speak now, Chef Im wrote, “As I recently began receiving excessive love, I felt that continuing activities while burying my past mistakes would be deceptive and disrespectful to those who believe in me.” He concluded, “I sincerely apologize once again for the disappointment caused by my careless actions. I will never forget my past mistakes and will discipline myself to live as a chef who contributes positively to society.”

His brand partnerships have also come under scrutiny. The Korea Times reported that Chef Im lost thousands of YouTube subscribers following the revelation and deleted at least one alcohol-related sponsored video. Other collaborations, including with tableware and home-shopping brands, remain under review as companies assess the fallout.