Chef Lim Sung-geun, known for criminal record, opens massive 3-story restaurant in Paju

Chef Lim Sung-geun, who gained wide popularity through the Netflix show "Culinary Class Wars Season 2" before drawing backlash when his six prior criminal convictions became public, has opened a large restaurant in Gyeonggi Province.

Lim announced on his Instagram on Sunday that he is opening a restaurant in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The venue will hold a soft opening Monday through Wednesday, with an official opening set for Thursday.

The restaurant occupies an entire three-story building. The first floor serves jjaggeuli — a spicy stew-style dish — the second floor offers galbi, and the third floor houses a cafe.

Lim said the restaurant will not take reservations at launch and will seat customers on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lim is a state-certified master cook with more than 40 years of experience in hansik, or Korean cuisine. He first rose to prominence by winning tvN's "Hansik Daecheop 3," a traditional Korean cuisine competition show, in 2015, then gained a wider following as a "white spoon" chef on "Culinary Class Wars Season 2." After his television appearances, he became embroiled in controversy when it emerged he had six prior convictions — four for drunk driving, one for riding a motorcycle without a license, and one for mutual assault.