Broadcaster Park Na-rae has stepped down from all variety shows amid various allegations, and the broadcasting industry as a whole appears to be effectively undertaking a "Park Na-rae erasure." Major earthwave·cable variety shows as well as YouTube web variety shows are following successive suspension·wrapping-up procedures. She is expected to refrain from appearing across broadcasting and online content for the time being.
Park Na-rae, after being embroiled in successive controversies including allegations of manager power harassment, illegal medical practices and failing to register a one-person agency, recently announced she would suspend her broadcasting activities. Accordingly, she has left all her regular appearances on MBC "I Live Alone", "Save Me! Holmes" and tvN "Amazing Saturday".
In this regard, on the 9th tvN told OSEN, "There are currently no plans to add members to 'Amazing Saturday' after Park Na-rae's departure." Park Na-rae, who had been active as an original member for about seven years since the show premiered in April 2018, will not be immediately replaced; the program plans to continue broadcasting with the existing eight-member structure.
Because "Amazing Saturday" has been loved for the chemistry of nine people including Shin Dong-yup, Boom, Moon Se-yoon, Kim Dong-hyun and Ipjjalbeun Haetnim, attention had focused on whether a new member would be added after Park Na-rae's departure. However, the production team has temporarily put additional recruitment on hold.
Following TV variety shows, Park Na-rae's presence will also disappear from web variety shows for the time being. The production team of the YouTube web variety show "Narae-sik," led by Park Na-rae, also announced a temporary halt to production on the same day in an official statement.
The "Narae-sik" production team said, "We conducted careful internal discussions immediately after the issue involving cast member Park Na-rae arose," and added, "We decided to suspend production temporarily out of respect for the cast member's wish to halt activities." They continued, "We thank the subscribers who have supported 'Narae-sik' and ask for understanding regarding this sudden news."
Earlier, two former managers working at Park Na-rae's one-person agency alleged so-called "power harassment" such as verbal abuse and assault, arranging prescriptions, nonpayment of hosting fees, and constant personal errands, and filed for provisional seizure of real estate and submitted complaints and accusations. The situation expanded further with allegations of illegal medical procedures and proxy prescriptions of psychotropic drugs known as the 'injection aunt' controversy, and legal violations over the failure to register a one-person agency.
Park Na-rae's side countered, "After leaving, the former managers received their severance pay normally but demanded an additional 10% of the company's sales," and said, "When this was refused, they made claims that are not true," and announced legal action. However, public sentiment did not easily subside, and ultimately Park Na-rae decided to suspend activities. As a result, her name has been removed from all broadcasts and content she was scheduled to appear in. The MBC new variety show "I Also Get Excited," which had been scheduled for the new year, has also been confirmed canceled.
As Park Na-rae, who had shown a strong presence in the variety world for some time, disappears simultaneously from TV and web variety shows, the broadcasting industry analyses that "moves to minimize Park Na-rae–related risks are likely to continue for the time being." Her return and timing are expected to be decided according to future investigations and judicial rulings.<
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]