Chef Lim Sung Geun, who gained popularity through Netflix’s variety show Culinary Class Wars 2, has revealed that he previously had his driver’s license revoked due to multiple drunk driving offenses.
On January 18, Lim Sung Geun addressed the issue on his YouTube channel ‘Im Sung Geun Imzzang TV’, saying, “Because I enjoyed drinking, I made mistakes. Over the span of about ten years, I drove under the influence around three times.”
He explained that one incident occurred about ten years ago, when he was caught after falling asleep in his car with the engine running, and that the most recent case was around five to six years ago. He added that he received criminal punishment at the time, had his license revoked, and later obtained it again. The confession came in response to a producer asking why he did not drink alcohol while tasting a dish he had prepared.
Lim stated, “What I did wrong is wrong. I don’t want to make excuses,” adding that the sudden surge of public attention felt overwhelming and led him to want to be honest about his past. He asked viewers for their understanding and forgiveness.
As controversy grew following the video, Lim posted a handwritten apology on his channel’s community page later the same day. He wrote, “Drunk driving is entirely my fault and cannot be justified for any reason.” He added that continuing activities while burying past mistakes would be disrespectful to those who trusted him, especially amid the recent increase in public support. He further apologized for disappointing viewers through careless actions and pledged to reflect on his past while striving to become a chef who can have a positive influence on society.
Lim Sung Geun first rose to prominence after winning ‘Korean Food war’ in 2015. More recently, he gained renewed attention after ranking in the top seven on ‘Culinary Class Wars 2’ and appearing on shows such as 'You Quiz on the Block'. With his rapid rise in popularity, he reportedly felt increasing pressure over his past actions and chose to disclose them proactively.
However, criticism has followed, as some questioned the sincerity of his apology given that the offenses occurred three times and that he reportedly filmed a whiskey advertisement just days before the video was uploaded.
As of January 19, Lim’s YouTube channel reportedly saw its subscriber count drop from 990,000 to 979,000 in a single day. Online reactions have been largely negative, with comments criticizing the use of a criminal confession as content and questioning the appropriateness of alcohol advertising following drunk driving offenses.
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