Comedian Park Na-rae's new project was shelved after Na Do Shin-na and now Palmyu Trip. The suspension is expected to continue until the 'injection aunt' controversy is resolved.
On the evening of the 15th, reports surfaced that MBC's new variety show Palmyu Trip had been canceled. Regarding this, an MBC official told OSEN on the morning of the 16th, 'Palmyu Trip was a program under planning discussion, and it has been decided not to proceed based on an internal judgment,' the official said.
Palmyu Trip was a new variety show originally planned to feature broadcaster Jun Hyun-moo, who gained great popularity as part of the MBC flagship variety show I Live Alone under the name Palmyu Siblings, along with comedian Park Na-rae and actor Lee Jang-woo. Riding on the success of Palmyu Siblings, which received praise for mukbangs while traveling in various overseas locations such as Taiwan, Vietnam and Türkiye, planning was underway to spin it off from I Live Alone into a standalone show.
In particular, Palmyu Trip raised expectations as a spin-off program that would expand the world of I Live Alone. For example, Extreme 84, which spotlighted only Kian84's extreme running that was also praised as Running 84 on I Live Alone, is currently airing as a new MBC variety show. Because of this, it was predicted that Palmyu Trip would further turn I Live Alone's world into MBC's own intellectual property.
However, a cast risk emerged. Recently Park Na-rae stepped down from I Live Alone and suspended all broadcasting activities amid a dispute with former managers. As a result, the Palmyu Trip planning was also canceled.
Park Na-rae has faced controversy after being accused by former managers of verbal abuse, special assault, being on constant call, and personal errands as forms of abuse of power. The former managers have specifically alleged that Park Na-rae received illegal medical procedures from 'injection aunt' and 'IV aunt' and accused her of operating an unregistered one-person agency.
Among the allegations, the controversy over illegal medical procedures involving 'injection aunt' has drawn the most criticism. It is even unclear whether 'injection aunt' is a licensed medical professional. The Inner Mongolia Fokang Medical University in China, from which he is said to have graduated, is reported to be non-existent, and the Korean Medical Association Organization and Korean Nursing Association (KNA) have strongly objected, saying they cannot verify 'injection aunt's medical license.
Initially Park Na-rae's side said the former managers left without issue but demanded 10% of revenue despite receiving proper severance pay, and she countersued the former managers on charges of extortion. However, as criticism over 'injection aunt' intensified, Park Na-rae met with the former managers to clear up misunderstandings and announced she would halt broadcasting activities, accepting responsibility. Later it was reported that although Park Na-rae did meet the former managers while intoxicated, she said they only confirmed differences in their positions and that the legal dispute would continue. Park Na-rae's side also said they would announce additional positions regarding 'injection aunt' but have remained silent.
Moreover, before Palmyu Trip, Park Na-rae was scheduled to appear on another new MBC variety show Na Do Shin-na. However, Na Do Shin-na was also halted entirely because of her suspension. Now with Palmyu Trip canceled as well, attention has turned to the situation.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by MBC.
[OSEN]