Park Na-rae Halts Activities Amid 'Manager Abuse' & 'Illegal Medical' Scandals; Repercussions Grow
Comedienne Park Na-rae has suspended her broadcasting activities following allegations of manager abuse and illegal medical procedures, and the fallout continues to ripple across society.
On March 3rd, Park Na-rae's former managers filed a lawsuit seeking approximately 100 million KRW in damages, citing not only unfair treatment but also serious criminal accusations including workplace bullying, aggravated assault, proxy prescription, and non-payment of operating expenses. They have also filed for a provisional seizure of real estate at the Seoul Western District Court.
In response, Park Na-rae's side countered that the former managers demanded an additional 10% of the company's previous year's revenue after receiving severance pay, with the demand escalating to hundreds of millions of won. Her agency stated that the allegations raised by some media outlets will be clarified through legal proceedings.
The most shocking revelation involves accusations of illegal medical practices. Allegations include proxy prescription of psychotropic drugs through managers and receiving unauthorized procedures from a non-medical professional at her residence, raising concerns of violations under the Medical Service Act.
While Park Na-rae has paused her career due to these controversies, the impact has even alarmed the Korean Medical Association. The KMA urged strong government sanctions against the individual, known as 'Injection Aunt' or 'IV Drip Aunt,' who is accused of unlicensed medical procedures and illegal drug handling. Hwang Gyu-seok, president of the Seoul Medical Association, pointed to the case as a stark example of the flaws within the Korean healthcare system.
Other celebrities who appeared with Park Na-rae, such as Jung Jae-hyung and Onew, have also found themselves indirectly implicated. Jung Jae-hyung's agency denied any acquaintance with the 'IV Drip Aunt,' while Onew's side clarified that the visit was for skincare and that a signed CD was merely a token of gratitude for treatment.
Variety shows featuring Park Na-rae, including 'Hel-lp Me Home,' 'I Live Alone,' and 'Amazing Saturday,' have been directly affected. Broadcasts already filmed are being edited to minimize her appearance, and the stations are in a difficult position regarding the appearance of individuals associated with her.
Park Na-rae is currently inactive, but a mountain of unresolved allegations looms, making her next steps a subject of intense public scrutiny.
Netizens are expressing significant concern, with comments like 'Park Na-rae's image has taken a huge hit,' 'I hope the truth comes out quickly,' and 'Stepping down from broadcasts seems like the only logical step.' The public is closely watching the developments.