Park Narae continues activities despite former managers' counterattack… "Additional statement to be released tomorrow"
Broadcaster Park Narae said she will not stop her activities despite former managers' revelations and legal disputes. Facing allegations of abuse of power, illegal medical practices and signs of corporate fund embezzlement, Park Narae's side announced they will release an additional statement and take direct action.
On the night of the 7th, a representative for Park Narae told OSEN, "We are currently drafting an additional statement regarding the former managers' claims," and added, "The exact timing of distribution has not been decided, but we are preparing to release it tomorrow (the 8th)." He went on to say, "The MBC 'I Live Alone' filming scheduled for the 8th is also expected to proceed as planned with no changes so far."
Earlier, on the 3rd, Park Narae was served with an application for provisional seizure of real estate at the Seoul Western District Court by her former managers. The former managers alleged so-called "abuse of power," including workplace harassment, aggravated injury, proxy prescriptions, unpaid production fees and being on-call for personal errands at all times, and warned of a lawsuit seeking about 100 million won in damages. In addition, the issue escalated further as allegations arose that Park Narae operated a one-person agency without registration and engaged in illegal medical practices.
In response, Park Narae's side issued a first official statement on the 5th, rebutting, "Although two employees who worked for about one year and three months received their severance pay properly after resigning, they later demanded an amount equivalent to 10% of the company's previous year's sales," and, "The requested amount gradually increased to several tens of millions of won, and when it was refused, they continued pressure with claims that are not true."
Regarding the particularly controversial allegation of illegal medical practices, they maintained, "The person referred to as the so-called 'injection aunt' is a medical professional holding a physician's license, and received a house call due to a busy schedule," insisting it was not a violation of the Medical Service Act. They also explained the one-person agency registration issue, saying, "It was only recently confirmed that registration for popular culture and arts planning business was delayed, and the former employees who raised the issue were in charge of that work and falsely reported that registration had been completed."
Meanwhile, Park Narae's side launched a counterattack against the former managers' claims. OSEN's reporting on the 6th found that Park Narae's side detected signs that the former managers embezzled corporate funds and are currently investigating the scale and flow of the spending. They said they plan to file a criminal complaint for embezzlement under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes once the investigation results are compiled.
Although the legal conflict continues to intensify, Park Narae decided not to suspend her broadcasting activities. She said she would participate normally in the programs she appears on to avoid harming fellow cast members and production staff. In fact, after the controversy, Park Narae appeared without edits on MBC 'Save Me! Homes', 'I Live Alone' and tvN 'Amazing Saturday', and an MBC new variety show 'I am excited too' is also upcoming.
However, unlike previously recorded segments, on the 8th a VCR studio recording of 'I Live Alone' is scheduled, so attention is focused on whether Park Narae will appear in person and on the contents of the additional statement.<
[Photo] 'OSEN DB'
[OSEN]