Chef Triple Star (real name Kang Seung-won), known for his appearance on the Netflix cooking survival program The Black and White Chef, has been cleared of the professional embezzlement charges that arose from his ex-wife's accusations, approximately one year after the controversy began.
According to police on the 19th, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station decided last month to close the case—ruling 'no charge'—against Triple Star regarding the professional embezzlement allegations. The case originated in November of last year when Triple Star's ex-wife, identified as Ms. A, filed a complaint through the National Sinmungo (e-People) alleging that Kang Seung-won had used approximately 24 million Korean won of the restaurant’s profits to pay off his father’s debt. The controversy led Triple Star to suspend all public activities.
Police investigation revealed that, contrary to Ms. A's claims, the relationship between the two was that of an individual business owner and a creditor, not business partners. The restaurant 'Treed' was registered solely under Kang Seung-won's name with the tax office, and employees submitted affidavits stating that Ms. A had never directly managed operations.
Furthermore, the 150 million Korean won investment Ms. A claimed was confirmed to have been converted to a loan, for which Triple Star was verified to have completed full repayment. The police concluded that there was insufficient evidence to suggest Triple Star intended to secretly misuse or appropriate the funds. Triple Star's side stated, "Since Ms. A was not a co-operator, the concept of embezzlement could not have been established in the first place. This result clearly reveals the truth."
Allegations concerning Triple Star's private life, including verbal abuse, infidelity, and lobbying for a Michelin restaurant position, which were reported by some media citing Ms. A and a former girlfriend Ms. B, were also deemed by the police to lack substance due to insufficient evidence and inconsistent testimonies. Specifically, the accusation of lobbying for his position at the American Michelin 3-star restaurant 'Benu' was disproved after direct verification with Benu's owner-chef, Corey Lee. Lee confirmed that Triple Star was hired as a regular employee after his internship due to his sincere attitude, and there were no external requests or favors involved.
The police classified the incident as a misunderstanding stemming from a financial dispute between a divorced couple, thus legally dismissing the embezzlement charges. Triple Star, who garnered attention for finishing third on The Black and White Chef, has now been fully cleared of all allegations after a year of legal struggle.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
