Chef Lim Seong-geun touts 'no valet parking' as Mosu Seoul grapples with valet damage dispute

Chef Lim Seong-geun, 59, who stepped back from television appearances amid controversy over six prior criminal convictions including multiple drunk-driving offenses, is drawing attention after emphasizing parking arrangements at his soon-to-open restaurant — and specifically noting that the venue will not offer valet parking. The remarks have prompted varied interpretations, coming as chef Ahn Sung-jae's Mosu Seoul is embroiled in a valet parking damage dispute.

On Wednesday, Lim's YouTube channel "Lim Seong-geun Imjjang TV" posted a video in which he previewed a braised pork restaurant he plans to open near Simhaksan in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

In the video, Lim walked viewers through the restaurant's interior and parking arrangements, saying he was concerned that customers would struggle if parking were difficult. He said he plans to lease open lots in front of, behind, and across from the building to use as parking space.

He then added, "We don't do valet parking or anything like that" — a remark that caught viewers' attention.

Many observers interpreted the comment as a veiled jab at Mosu Seoul, which recently became the center of a valet parking controversy.

The incident dates to Dec. 6, when a customer identified only as A visited Mosu Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and the vehicle was severely damaged during the valet parking process. Mosu promised A a smooth resolution, and the valet service company paid 20 million won (about $13,200) toward repair costs.

When the repair estimate climbed to 70 million won, however, Mosu and the valet company began pointing fingers at each other over liability. With payment stalled, A has reportedly been unable to retrieve the vehicle from the repair shop for nearly six months.

A Mosu representative said the restaurant's position is that "in principle, the valet parking company bears responsibility for the accident."

Meanwhile, Lim is a hansik chef with 40 years of experience who first gained wide recognition by winning the Olive cooking competition show "Korean Food Battle Season 3" in 2015 and appearing in "Korean Food Battle: Masters Edition" in 2018. He later won a large following for his skill and wit on the Netflix original series "Culinary Class Wars 2."

Controversy erupted, however, when it emerged that Lim had been convicted of drunk driving on four separate occasions — in 1999, 2009, 2017 and 2020. Combined with assault convictions, he carries a total of six prior criminal convictions, a stigma that led him to suspend his broadcasting activities.

‘극우 악플’ 견뎌낸 아이돌…31년 만에 ‘진보 강릉시장’ 당선에 “아빠, 사랑해요!”

https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10763452