Actor Lee Yi-kyung, embroiled in private life rumors, could not avoid stepping down and the cancellation of grants. On the other hand, the broadcaster Park Na-rae, who faces allegations of power abuse, is being observed for now. The broadcasting industry's markedly different stance is bewildering.
Lee Yi-kyung left MBC's Hangout With Yoo and KBS2's The Return of SUPERMAN during the course in which the exposer of his private life rumors reversed their position and made the revelations.
Lee Yi-kyung's private life rumors began with an exposé on the 20th of last month by A, who identified themselves as German. After alternating between deleting and revealing the posts, two days later A apologized saying it "started as a joke," and the controversy seemed to be settling, but Lee Yi-kyung's side said they sued A and declared a hardline stance, saying "there is no settlement of any kind."
In the process, Lee Yi-kyung left Hangout With Yoo without even being able to say farewell, and he could not even show his face on The Return of SUPERMAN, which had planned to include him as the first unmarried MC, resulting in the cancellation of grants. In response, Lee Yi-kyung poured out feelings of hurt and injustice and left a post targeting the matter, and ultimately Hangout With Yoo apologized to Lee Yi-kyung.
Even though Lee Yi-kyung maintained a hardline stance and protested his innocence from the start of the private life rumors, the program sides decided on "stepping down." At first they seemed to support Lee Yi-kyung, but amid the exposer's reversal of position they ultimately decided on his departure.
By contrast, Park Na-rae, who faces "power abuse" allegations following exposés by former managers, has seen no notable moves from the broadcasting industry despite not issuing an official statement.
According to Dispatch on the 4th, Park Na-rae's former managers filed an application for property seizure by the Seoul Western District Court. The reason for applying for property seizure was the concern that Park Na-rae has not admitted wrongdoing and that, if a damage suit is filed, she is likely to dispose of or hide assets. The former managers also warned of a planned damage suit worth about 100 million won for the harms they suffered during their employment.
According to reports, the former managers allege workplace harassment, special injury, proxy prescriptions, nonpayment of progress fees and other claims against Park Na-rae. The former managers reportedly submitted additional evidence to the court proving Park Na-rae's misconduct, and they claimed she humiliated them privately by ordering them to run errands for snacks, clean up after parties, force them to drink at gatherings, handle family matters and perform domestic helper tasks.
Having established herself as a likable star who cares for and helps others through MBC's I Live Alone and other programs, Park Na-rae naturally suffered damage from the former managers' exposés themselves. Park Na-rae's side has kept silent, only saying they are "checking." Program producers are growing anxious as Park Na-rae's statement is delayed. Park Na-rae currently appears on MBC's I Live Alone, Rescue! Homes, and tvN's Amazing Saturday, and Rescue! Homes did not edit out Park Na-rae on the 4th. As a result, ratings dipped slightly, making I Live Alone and Amazing Saturday understandably sensitive. However, unlike Lee Yi-kyung—who immediately issued an official statement and took a hardline stance over the private life rumors yet was still let go by MBC—Park Na-rae remains protected under the stance of "observe for now" even though no official statement has yet been issued.
A markedly different handling of Lee Yi-kyung and Park Na-rae. With many people puzzled, attention is on how the broadcasting industry will move after Park Na-rae's official statement.
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