[Exclusive] “The past with him was painful”… Triple Star, ex-wife and ex-girlfriend
[Dispatch = Reporters Kim So-Jung and Kim Da-Eun] “I went through countless wounds…” (Person A)
Person A is the ex-wife of ‘Chef’ Triple Star (real name: Kang Seung-Won) and was featured in the wedding photo at the Hyatt Hotel (2022).
“I experienced numerous wounds during our dating and marriage process, and went through betrayal. I thought I had erased those memories, but the past revives and troubles me.” (Person A)
Triple Star also acknowledged his relationship with Person A. However, he protested to ‘Dispatch’, saying, “The divorce was a one-sided notice. I wanted to protect the family.”
“There wasn’t any specific reason for the divorce. It was Person A who requested it. I tried to keep the family together. Honestly, I’m not sure what I did wrong.” (Triple Star)
Triple Star married Person A in May 2022 and divorced three months later. They hadn’t registered the marriage, so they were in a de facto relationship, not a legal marriage.
There is also Person B. She was suddenly ‘ghosted’ by Triple Star.
“One day, I was dumped without any explanation. I tried to at least get an apology, but couldn’t get in touch.” (Person B)
Person B heard about Triple Star’s marriage. She sent a DM (above) to ‘Treed.’ Person B later found out that Triple Star was two-timing.
Triple Star admitted to the relationship with Person B as well. He said, “We didn’t date long,” mentioning they dated for 1-2 months and acknowledged not contacting her afterward.
Triple Star emerged in the (media) world. He became a star chef overnight through ‘Monochrome Chef.’ Treed also rose to fame as a renowned restaurant.
His emergence is good news in the culinary world. But for Person A and Person B, it’s a nightmare. Both expressed that “memories we wanted to forget have resurfaced.”
“Someone I never wanted to see again appeared. I don’t care if he cooks at restaurants, but I don’t want to see his face in the media.” (Persons A and B)
Persons A and B reported Triple Star’s past to ‘Dispatch,’ pointing out issues like personal life controversies, Michelin employment lobbying, verbal abuse, and threats.
What does Triple Star think about these controversies? Here’s a Q&A with claims from Persons A and B and Triple Star’s responses.
◆ Meeting with Person A
Person A and Triple Star first met in 2014. At the time, Person A was residing in the U.S. for business, and Triple Star was an international student at ‘Le Cordon Bleu.’
Person A supported Triple Star both financially and emotionally. She revealed to ‘Dispatch’ that she “lobbied for his employment by giving Chanel bags and more.”
Dispatch: Who did you give the Chanel bags to?
A: Triple Star was a student then. I heard that where you worked as a chef mattered a lot. I had various connections through my business, so I found people who could influence the restaurants Triple Star wanted.
Dispatch: Is it a case of daddy’s help, or rather ex-wife’s help?
A: I had an older friend in the U.S. (Person X) who was close. Her friend (Person Y) had connections at ‘Atelier Crenn’ and ‘Benu.’ I asked her for help, saying, ‘He’s a friend I’m going to marry, but he’s still a student and can’t find work because he lacks experience.’ I promised to repay the favor.
‘Dispatch’ contacted Person X, residing in the U.S., for verification. She mentioned, “Person A earnestly requested her boyfriend’s employment,” adding that she “mobilized personal connections to find a network.”
Dispatch: Was a Chanel bag given as a gift?
X: It was a limited edition with gold chains in deep red. Person A brought two, asking favors for her boyfriend.
Dispatch: Did the lobbying impact the employment process?
X: Triple Star was just a student then, and there are numerous culinary schools in the U.S. During graduation season, resumes flood in. An inexperienced student getting into a Michelin restaurant is uncommon.
Dispatch: How did the ‘Benu’ employment process go?
X: Person Y had connections with an investor at Benu and knew Chef Corey Lee well. Through our network, Triple Star got a chance to interview at Benu.
The Chanel bag lobbying was also mentioned in the recorded conversation between the two (in blue).
“I supported you so much, even from the U.S. I even bought Chanel bags (with my money) for X and Y and begged them, ‘Please help him get employed.'” (Person A)
‘Dispatch’ verified the validity with Triple Star. He retorted, “Is it a place where you can get in with a Chanel bag?” deeming it nonsense.
Triple Star: I know Person A bought Chanel bags for X and Y. But is it a place where you can get employed just because you gave a bag? They were simply gifts from Person A to her close friends.
Dispatch: What efforts did you personally make?
Triple Star: I emailed them. I worked at ‘Atelier Crenn’ as an extern. However, I genuinely wanted to work at ‘Benu.’ I went to the U.S. to work at ‘Benu.’
Dispatch: Person A claims her lobbying (favors) had a decisive impact on your hiring process.
Triple Star: I interned at ‘Benu’ for 3 months without pay. I worked incredibly hard and was hired full-time in a month. Was it because of a Chanel bag? It was because the head chef recognized me.
Dispatch: Then why didn’t you deny the Chanel bag lobbying during your call with Person A?
Triple Star: That’s just how I am. When Person A talked about ‘giving Chanel bags,’ I didn’t want to argue over its credibility.
◆ Love and Regret
Person A and Triple Star experienced a cycle of love and war (2014~2022). Their relationship spanned dating, breaking up, reconciling, divorcing, and conflict.
Triple Star wrote letters during those times. He sent about 40 letters to Person A, of which ‘Dispatch’ reviewed around 10.
The letters, totaling 1,750 characters, were filled with numerous reflections and apologies, and promises and resolutions. For example…
“Secretly watching a female customer, dressed seductively, sitting alone at a table through CCTV footage in a darkened warehouse.” (From a letter of apology)
“I am trash. I like women, harbor dirty greed, and did things I should never have done to someone who gave me immense love.” (From a letter of reflection)
“Planning to spend a lifetime together, providing trust as a lifelong partner, and showing through actions that it is possible to think that way.” (From promises)
Their romantic relationship wasn’t smooth. Moreover, they had a long-distance relationship for a year. Person A returned to Korea first in 2016, and Triple Star returned in 2017.
Dispatch: What issues arose during the long-distance period (2016)?
A: Honestly, there were always women issues even while dating. But being apart made it unbearable. Then a decisive event happened.
Dispatch: A decisive incident?
A: With another man… (Dispatch heard Person A’s answer but chose not to disclose the claim verbatim. Triple Star’s letter of reflection will be used instead.)
Questions regarding this were also posed to Triple Star.
Dispatch: Is Person A’s claim true?
Triple Star: No, absolutely not.
Dispatch: The 10th reflection letter contains admissions related to that content.
Triple Star: I don’t have the reflection letter right now… I don’t remember what I wrote.
◆ Another Person B
Person A was an investor in ‘Treed’ at that time. She invested 150 million won in Triple Star’s restaurant venture. Afterward, Person A was in charge of marketing and other areas.
The Instagram management for ‘Treed’ was also Person A’s responsibility. In April 2022, Person A received a mysterious message through the official account. It was a DM sent by the ex-girlfriend, Person B.
Dispatch: Did you confirm it with Triple Star?
A: He made excuses that he only dated briefly to forget me. Then he began to find faults in Person B.
‘Dispatch’ managed to contact Person B after some difficulty. B stated that she and Triple Star dated for about 4 months before suddenly being ‘ghosted.’
Person B requested ‘Dispatch’ not to use her interview. She didn’t want to be associated with past issues anymore. Instead, she provided a statement.
“I had heard rumors about issues with women, but never thought I would be one of them. There wasn’t even a quarrel. We dated like any normal couple, then suddenly I was dumped without explanation or reason.
Later, I found out he was two-timing with another woman during that period. I tried contacting him for an apology, but to no avail. Shortly after, I suddenly heard rumors about his marriage and restaurant opening. The betrayal was deeply wounding.
I buried the wound in my heart and tried to live on forgetting. Then I saw ‘Monochrome Chef’ and someone I never wanted to see appeared. When my acquaintances commented on the show’s favorable image, I realized the extent of media image crafting.
I hope someday all the truth about his dual-faced nature will emerge. I hope he realizes his wrongdoings through this opportunity. I’d love to stop seeing that pretentious face on media.” (Person B)
◆ Conflict with Wife
‘Dispatch’ wanted to know Triple Star’s position.
Dispatch: There are allegations of ghosting.
Triple Star: We didn’t date for a long time, about 1-2 months. Our views were different, so I stopped contacting her.
Dispatch: Did you contact Person B after ‘Dispatch’ started its investigation?
Triple Star: No, I wouldn’t do that. You should ask the concerned party.
Triple Star chose to ‘ghost’ Person B at the time of their breakup, not responding or initiating contact.
However, when the investigation proceeded, he sent a text to Person B, seeking a call on ‘an important matter’ – his first contact after the ghosting.
‘Dispatch’ ceased further questioning about Person B, respecting her wish. However, verifying Person A’s allegations, especially concerning threats, was necessary.
Dispatch: In August 2023, you allegedly threatened Person A saying, ‘I want to stab him to death’ after she got a new boyfriend.
Triple Star: Did you see just a part?
Dispatch: We saw a KakaoTalk conversation between you two.
Triple Star: Wasn’t it manipulated?
Dispatch: It wasn’t manipulated; only the threatening part was captured.
Triple Star: I don’t know what KakaoTalk you saw. It’s hard to answer. There must be a reason if I got angry. Typically, I’m not that type, so Person A may have been startled.
Triple Star stopped answering further questions. His lawyer attributed the problematic statement to having ‘prior context.’
Nonetheless, the phrase “I want to tear and kill you” from a chef sounds threatening, and it’s why Person A is considering a blackmail lawsuit.
Lastly, we asked about the letters repeatedly written and sent. Triple Star’s lawyer responded instead.
“I’ve roughly heard about the woman. Triple Star seemed to have yielded a lot. I’ve also heard that he lived giving in.” (Lawyer)
Triple Star downplayed the significance of the letters, suggesting they were merely to soothe Person A’s anger. He claimed the content was not 100% truthful.
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