Various controversies erupted, including debt, extramarital affairs, and illegal business operations.
Since the broadcast of Netflix’s ‘Black and White Chef: Cooking Class War’, which has gained sensational popularity not only domestically but also around the world, social controversy has arisen as controversies over the private lives of some of the contestants, lawsuits over financial issues, and suspicions of illegality have arisen one after another.
Netflix’s ‘Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War’ came to a close with its final episode released on the 8th of last month. However, since then, the performers have been at the center of various controversies one after another.
First, Lee Young-sook (69), who is known as a ‘Korean food master’ after winning not only ‘Black and White Chef’ but also ‘Korean Food Battle 2’ in 2014, is suspected of ‘debt investment’ worth 100 million won.
According to the legal community on the 11th, the Nonsan Branch of Daejeon District Court accepted on the 1st an application by creditor A for a bond seizure and collection order for Mr. Lee’s appearance fees filed against the production company of ‘Black and White Chef’. Mr. A claimed that he lent 100 million won to Mr. Lee in April 2010, before his father died, and used an IOU, but has not received it back for 14 years.
Mr. Lee is known to have committed fraudulent acts by gifting land and other real estate assets to his family in order to reduce his wealth without paying back his debts.
Regarding the controversy over default, Mr. Lee’s side stated, “Due to poor communication with the creditor, we were unable to properly understand repayment,” and added, “We are currently confirming the matter through a lawyer, and will fulfill our responsibility to repay any remaining debt.”
At the end of last month, the personal life of ‘Triple Star’ Kang Seung-won (33) was revealed. Mr. Kang’s ex-wife, Mr. B, who met him in the United States in 2014 and married him in May 2022, claimed through a domestic media outlet that he and Mr. Kang broke up in the past due to conflict over women’s issues, and that he had provided financial support until the breakup.
A written reflection written by Mr. Kang to his ex-wife was made public through the media. It said, “I secretly looked into the CCTV footage in an unlit warehouse while a scantily clad female customer was sitting alone (at a table),” and “Because of my greed, another man It included content such as “I asked him to sleep with me,” in which Mr. Kang acknowledged and apologized for his infidelity and history with women.
It was also claimed that while studying abroad in the United States, Kang engaged in lobbying activities, such as gifting luxury bags to officials, in order to get a job at a Michelin restaurant. Suspicions of embezzlement were also raised at Kang’s restaurant ‘Tried’, alleging that Kang misappropriated the store’s public funds.
Gangnam Police Station in Seoul received a complaint of business embezzlement against Mr. Kang through Kookmin Shinmungo. Currently, a pre-booking investigation (internal investigation) has begun.
In addition, ‘Bibim King’ Yoo Bibim (60) confessed to illegal business and announced that he would close the restaurant. On the 1st, Mr. Yu posted on his Instagram, “I have run several businesses, including fruit vendors, food stalls, and beauty salons, but failed each time. Since 2003, I have been arrested for running a restaurant in an unlicensed place and sentenced to probation.” “He said.
He said that he closed the business for a year, then registered the business again under his wife’s name and continued to run the store through expedient methods until recently. He added, “We are well aware that breaking the law cannot be justified for any reason.”
Previously, it was reported that Mr. Yoo was indicted on charges of operating an illegal business by equipping cooking utensils without reporting it to the district office (violation of the Food Business Act) and was sentenced to eight months in prison in 2015, after which the sentence was reduced to probation on appeal. Additionally, he has previously been fined several times for violating related laws.
(Seoul = Newsis)
Source: www.donga.com
