Chef Lim Sung-geun Steps Back from Broadcasting Amid DUI Controversies

Chef Lim Sung-geun, known for his culinary expertise, has announced his decision to withdraw from broadcasting activities following a series of legal issues, including five DUIs and an assault charge.

In a recent interview, Lim officially declared his intention to halt his broadcasting career. According to a report by Ilgan Sports on the 21st, he denied allegations of preemptively releasing a confession video on YouTube before the DUI news broke. Lim explained, "The video was pre-recorded and scheduled for upload. I wanted to address the issue before it escalated further."

Reflecting on the aftermath of his confession, Lim shared, "The backlash was much greater than I anticipated. I received numerous calls, but I couldn't answer most of them."

He also provided more details about the incident that confirmed his DUI, which contradicted his initial claim of "sleeping in the car after drinking." Lim stated, "In 2020, I called a designated driver, but a dispute over the fare led the driver to leave the car. I decided to walk home as it was nearby, but was caught moving the car the next morning." The court ruling noted the distance moved was approximately 200 meters.

Lim's history of DUI offenses is extensive. According to court documents, he was fined 5 million won for a DUI on September 21, 1999. He was caught driving approximately 3km in Incheon with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.153%, well above the legal limit, while driving his wife's motorcycle without a license, resulting in a 37-day detention.

This incident occurred during a probation period. Lim had previously been sentenced to eight months in prison with a two-year probation and a 300,000 won fine for a traffic law violation in March 1998, which was upheld in 2000 after an appeal.

Additionally, he was fined 2 million won in 2009 and 3 million won in 2017 for DUIs, and in 2020, he was caught driving in Seoul with a blood alcohol level of 0.14%, receiving a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years, 80 hours of community service, and 40 hours of a safe driving course.

Despite Lim's public acknowledgment of "three instances," the revelation of more offenses intensified criticism. He cited the IMF financial crisis, explaining, "During that time, my wife and I ran a small lunchbox shop, and I had to make deliveries without a license to sustain our livelihood." He added, "I had to support two children and my mother, and the shop was our only source of income."

Lim also disclosed another incident, admitting, "There is one more incident that could be controversial." He recounted a parking dispute near Noryangjin that led to mutual assault charges, resulting in a fine of about 300,000 won.

He repeatedly acknowledged responsibility for the DUI controversies, stating, "Drunk driving is clearly my fault, and I deserve criticism a hundred or a thousand times over." He mentioned preparing a separate apology video.

Regarding his future, Lim drew a line, stating, "Although home shopping recordings will air due to contractual obligations, I will not appear on terrestrial, cable, or OTT programs," reaffirming his decision to cease broadcasting activities.

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr