King Bibim (비빔대왕), a contestant from the Netflix cooking show ‘Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사),’ has publicly confessed to past illegal activities and announced the closure of his restaurant.
On November 1, King Bibim shared a handwritten letter on Instagram, stating, “With a heavy heart, I want to confess my past mistakes.”
He explained, “I’ve tried various businesses over the years, from selling fruit on the streets to running a food stall and even a hair salon, but they all failed. Since 2003, I operated a restaurant in an unlicensed location, eventually leading to my arrest and a suspended sentence.”
He continued, “I deeply reflected on my actions and closed the restaurant for a year. However, with the need to support my family, I registered a business under my wife’s name as a performance and traditional Korean food experience venue, operating in a roundabout way until recently. I pleaded with public institutions and regulatory reform committees to lift these restrictions so I could run the restaurant legally, but I couldn’t overcome the regulatory barriers.”
King Bibim acknowledged, “I know that breaking the law can never be justified, no matter the reason. Since becoming the focus of public attention, my wife and I have lived in constant unease. I will now return to my original passion for studying bibim culture and dedicating myself to writing the ‘Encyclopedia of Bibim Characters.’ I am officially closing my restaurant.”
As an act of apology, he announced, “I am opening the old Bibim Sori space, which I’ve devoted myself to over the past 20 years, as a free venue for bibim exhibitions and performances for the public. In the relocated Bibim Sori at Hanok Village, I will continue to serve with the finest ingredients, legally and with gratitude. I apologize for the disappointment caused by my shortcomings. If the past 20 years were about making a living, I will dedicate the next 20 years to promoting Korea’s bibim culture.”
King Bibim recently gained public recognition through his appearance on the Netflix cooking show ‘Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사).’ He is also scheduled to appear on the tvN variety show ‘You Quiz on the Block’ on November 6.