'Culinary Class Wars' star Im Seong-keun quits TV after admitting to multiple DUIs

Chef Im Seong-keun, who rose to fame with Netflix hit “Culinary Class Wars 2,” abruptly admitted on Jan. 18 to a history of drunk driving. Captured from Netflix and Im's YouTube channel community

Chef Im Seong-keun, breakout star of the Netflix hit "Culinary Class Wars 2," has announced an indefinite halt to his television career following public outrage over his history of drunk driving.

In an interview with Seoul-based media outlet Ilyo on Wednesday, Im admitted to multiple past DUI offenses, saying, "I have no excuses. It is entirely my fault."

He said he would withdraw from all programs on major broadcasting networks and streaming services.

However, the chef noted two exceptions to his hiatus. He plans to fulfill existing contracts for his appearances on a TV shopping network to prevent financial harm to small partner businesses. He also intends to keep his YouTube channel active, saying, "I will continue my channel because it is a form of talent donation to give recipes to struggling small business owners."

The controversy erupted after he admitted on his YouTube channel on Sunday that he had been caught driving under the influence three times.

In his interview, Im attempted to explain the circumstances of his 2017 and 2020 citations, attributing them to disputes with designated drivers.

"In one instance, I raised my voice at a designated driver, who then stopped the car on the shoulder and left," Im told Ilyo. "I got in the driver's seat, turned on the engine, fell asleep, and was caught."

He offered a similar defense for the 2020 case, claiming a driver left his vehicle near his home after demanding a higher fare. "I walked home and went to sleep, but I was caught driving the car after receiving a call at dawn to move it," Im explained to the newspaper.

However, further reports have revealed a fourth incident dating back to 1999. Court records show chef Im Seong-keun was charged with driving his wife's motorcycle unlicensed and intoxicated for 3 kilometers in Incheon. His blood alcohol level at the time was 0.153 percent, well above the threshold for license revocation.

On the 1999 incident, Im explained that he was running a lunchbox business at the time and felt he "had no choice" but to make deliveries personally when staff failed to show up.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.