Comedian Park Narae stopped activities, saying she accepts responsibility, after settling the dispute with her former managers. But it is not over. Allegations that she received illegal medical procedures remain.
On the 8th, Park Narae announced she would suspend activities. It was five days after the dispute with her former managers became known on the 3rd.
Earlier, the former managers applied to the Seoul Western District Court to provisionally seize Park Narae's real estate. They claimed that while employed they suffered 'power harassment' such as verbal abuse from Park Narae, special assault, proxy prescriptions, and nonpayment of production fees. In particular, the accusation that Park Narae violated the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act by operating without registering a one-person agency and that she had continued illegal medical acts such as receiving proxy prescriptions and psychotropic drugs from the so-called "injection aunt" shocked people.
In this regard, on the 5th Park Narae's side rebutted the initial claims, saying they were "not true." Park Narae's side first argued that the former managers did not raise issues until after they left, that severance pay was paid properly during the resignation process, but they demanded 10% of additional revenues and when that was refused they pressured Park Narae with false claims. They also emphasized that the "injection aunt" is an actual medical professional and that Park Narae received house calls amid a busy schedule.
Five days into the controversy this morning (the 8th), Park Narae explained, "We were not given an opportunity to talk with the parties involved, so misunderstandings accumulated," and "With the help of many people, only yesterday I could face the former manager; we were able to resolve misunderstandings and distrust between us, but I still think it was all my fault and I am deeply reflecting on it."
She also declared, "As a comedian whose job is to bring laughter and joy, I decided to suspend broadcast activities until everything is neatly resolved because I cannot cause any more trouble to programs and colleagues." Afterward, MBC's variety shows she is a regular on, "Save Me! Homes" and I Live Alone, and tvN's variety show Amazing Saturday officially announced her departure and that they would edit her existing shot footage as much as possible.
New variety shows that were about to be released also followed suit. MBC's new variety show "I'm Excited Too" had its scheduling canceled and production was halted entirely. Web variety show "Narae's Style" also stopped production and the guest Daesung episode that was scheduled to be released on the 10th was canceled. Disney+'s new variety show "Fate War 49" said it was "under discussion" and took a reserved stance, but since filming was completed there is no additional footage of Park Narae, and her footage is expected to be adjusted during postproduction.
However, beyond these "mass withdrawals," Park Narae's suspension of activities is not the end. That is because the illegal medical acts surrounding the "injection aunt" have raised the possibility of substantive investigation and punishment through the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The "injection aunt" had claimed on social media to be a medical professional who graduated from Neimenggu Pogang Medical University in China, but according to a doctors' group called the Association of Doctors for a Just Society (abbreviated ADJS) that released a statement on the 7th, "Neimenggu Pogang Medical University" is a nonexistent 'ghost medical school' that cannot be found anywhere in China. Furthermore, ADJS stressed that even if the "injection aunt" did graduate from a medical school in China, medical practice in Korea would be "illegal."
Furthermore, on the 8th the Korean Medical Association Organization issued an official press release saying the "injection aunt" is not a holder of a domestic medical license and that it formally requested the Ministry of Health and Welfare to inquire about the matter. A KMAO official told OSEN, "All doctors in Korea are members of the association. There is no possibility that a person who holds a domestic medical license would not be in the association's database," drawing a line under any exception for the "injection aunt."
Moreover, the "injection aunt" was not only linked to Park Narae but had long-standing friendship rumors with SHINee member Key and was accused of following various popular entertainers on social media. Attention is focusing on whether the dispute between Park Narae and her former managers will spread into an illegal medical scandal in the entertainment industry.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS sources.
[OSEN]