Lim Seong-geun's confession of drunk driving draws mixed reactions… "this is not a pardon" vs "still honest"
Netflix variety show Culinary Class Wars 2 cast member and chef Im Seong-keun has seen public opinion sharply divided after he personally revealed past drunk driving.
On the 18th, Im Seong-keun confessed in a video released on his YouTube channel 'ImJjang TV,' "I like drinking, so I made mistakes," and "I drove under the influence three times over 10 years." He said, "The most recent detection was five to six years ago," and "my license was revoked as a criminal punishment and I later regained it." He added, "Since then I have pulled myself together and no longer drive drunk. Nowadays, even if I have one drink I call a designated driver."
As the controversy grew, Im Seong-keun bowed his head again in a handwritten apology. He said, "Drunk driving is an inexcusable wrong for any reason," and "I accepted legal punishment and afterward spent time reflecting on myself in seclusion." He went on to explain the reason for his confession, saying, "Recently receiving excessive love, I judged that continuing activities while hiding the past could rather be deceitful."
Reactions are mixed. Some internet users criticized, "Drunk driving is a clear crime, and three times is by no means trivial," "it's akin to a would-be killer; voluntary confession cannot be a pardon," and "it's disappointing that he presented it in content format."
On the other hand, others said, "The fact that he did not hide the past and disclosed it himself is something to be valued," "if he was already punished and lived without relapse, there's no need to rush to condemn him," and "it's not a perfect confession, but the honesty itself is meaningful."
Ultimately, Im Seong-keun's confession is positive in that it represents an acceptance of responsibility, but it is regrettable in terms of whether it sufficiently raised awareness of the severity of drunk driving. A voluntary confession does not erase all criticism, but it also leaves the question of whether a single past wrongdoing can negate all of a person's current efforts.
Attention is focused on the point that the end of the controversy depends not on the confession itself but on what attitude and actions follow to maintain responsibility.
[Photo] 'Culinary Class Wars'
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