Why Koreans holds celebrities to a sky-high moral standard
Korea’s harsh moral expectations for public figures have once again come under scrutiny, as star chef Lim Seong-geun saw his hard-won fame evaporate almost overnight following revelations of past drunk-driving offenses. Sociologists say this goes beyond cancel culture, reflecting how Korean society views celebrities as moral proxies, emotional surrogates and symbols of justice in an unequal society. Lim shot to national fame on Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars," Season 2, where viewers praised his skill, humor and easy rapport with younger chefs. His simple, affordable recipes went viral on YouTube and by early January his inbox was overflowing with collaboration requests and commercial offers from major broadcasters and brands. The momentum collapsed on Sunday, when he posted a YouTube video confessing to multiple drunk-driving offenses over roughly a decade, saying he had "made mistakes because of my love for alcohol" and had even had his license revoked. Subsequent reporting revealed at least four DUI cases, including one involving riding a motorcycle while intoxicated and withouWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times
Quelle: Korea Times