Park Na-rae forges ahead with activities amid various allegations… "a nuisance" vs "possible if blameless" public opinion evenly split
Broadcaster Park Na-rae is sticking to her position of not suspending activities despite legal disputes with former managers and spreading allegations of illegal medical practices, dividing public opinion. As she has announced she will release an additional statement and is mounting a direct response, some criticize that "forging ahead with activities is rather a burden," while others defend her, saying "if she is blameless, it is an acceptable choice."
On the night of the 7th, a representative of Park Na-rae told OSEN, "We are currently drafting an additional statement regarding the claims by former managers," and added, "We are preparing with the goal of releasing it tomorrow (the 8th)." He went on to say, "The MBC I Live Alone filming scheduled for the 8th has not had its schedule changed so far."
Earlier, on the 3rd, Park Na-rae 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 "gapjil" including workplace harassment, special injury, proxy prescription, unpaid production fees, and standing by for constant personal errands, and warned they would claim about 100 million won in damages. Afterward, controversy spread further with allegations of operating without registering a one-person agency and illegal medical practices.
In response, on the 5th Park Na-rae's side, through a first statement, rebutted, "Two employees who worked for about one year and three months received their severance pay upon leaving, yet demanded 10% of the company's previous year sales, and the demanded amount swelled to several hundred million won," adding, "When this was refused, pressure continued with claims that were not true."
Regarding the allegations of illegal medical practices, they maintained the position that "the person nicknamed 'injection auntie' is a medical professional with a doctor's license, and received a house call due to a busy schedule," asserting there was no illegality. They also explained the unregistered one-person agency controversy by saying, "We later confirmed that the former employees who handled the registration work falsely reported that the registration had been completed."
However, on the 7th, the controversy spread again as an additional statement from a doctors' association was released. The Group of Doctors Who Want a Fair Society (Gonguimo) said on its official blog that the "Inner Mongolia Pogang Medical College," which was claimed to be the institution where the "injection auntie" served as a professor, is a non-existent "ghost medical school." Gonguimo emphasized that the university cannot be found in official accreditation materials of medical schools in China or worldwide.
Gonguimo further pointed out, "Even if A graduated from a Chinese medical college, graduates of Chinese medical schools are not eligible to take the Korean medical licensing exam, making domestic medical practice fundamentally impossible," and stressed, "A thorough investigation into whether the person is a doctor and into medical practices overall is necessary."
Despite this situation, Park Na-rae intends to continue her broadcasting activities. She conveyed that she will participate normally in the programs she is appearing on so as not to harm fellow cast members and production staff, and in fact she appeared without edits on the recently aired MBC Save Me! Homes, I Live Alone, and tvN Amazing Saturday. The new MBC variety show I'm Also Excited is also scheduled to air.
Public opinion is sharply divided over this. Some internet users reacted, "The allegations have grown this big, yet pushing ahead with activities is not respectful to viewers," "It only burdens the program itself," and "At least refrain until things are sorted out; that would be responsible." On the other hand, others said, "If she were not blameless, could she continue such public activities?" "There is no reason to stop activities while legal procedures are underway," and "It's excessive to call for dismissal already when charges have not been confirmed," defending Park Na-rae.
The studio recording of I Live Alone scheduled for the 8th is a possible schedule in which Park Na-rae could participate in an official VCR recording for the first time since the controversy, and attention is focusing on whether she will appear and on the contents of the additional statement. Allegations expand, explanations continue, and activities are pushed forward. Analysts say whether Park Na-rae's choice will be judged a "responsible direct breakthrough" or remain a "reckless move amid controversy" depends on future legal rulings and the flow of public opinion.
[photo] 'Park Na-rae'
[OSEN]