-'ringer aunt' admits to practicing without a license…the issue is whether Park Na-rae was aware, 'injection aunt' deleted SNS, disappeared
-Six complaints and accusations filed, police "will investigate strictly following procedure"
Amid spreading allegations of illegal medical practice surrounding comedian Park Na-rae, the person nicknamed 'ringer aunt' admitted to being unlicensed, moving the controversy into a new phase. The key issue is whether Park Na-rae knew that the person was not a medical professional. Moreover, the person called the 'injection aunt' has disappeared, making the controversy even greater.
Two people known as the 'ringer aunt' and the 'injection aunt' appear in this controversy. Identified as different individuals, they have taken contrasting actions that have amplified the fallout. The 'ringer aunt' admitted to being unlicensed, while the 'injection aunt' claimed to be a medical professional but deleted her social media accounts and disappeared.
According to Channel A's report on the 10th, Park Na-rae is accused of receiving an intravenous drip from a person called the 'ringer aunt' in a hotel room in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, during a variety show shoot last July. Park Na-rae's former manager claimed, "A person in plain clothes, not a doctor's gown, entered the room and gave her an IV," and argued, "This person is completely different from the previously known 'injection aunt.'"
The former manager alleged that Park Na-rae personally hired the person, revealing text messages negotiating a 250,000 won travel fee and evidence that the amount was transferred to an account in the name of an executive at the agency.
In an interview published on the 15th by The Munhwa Ilbo Company, B, the person called the 'ringer aunt,' admitted that the account in question was indeed hers. However, she denied "having any memory of performing medical procedures on Park Na-rae." Regarding whether she held a medical license, she answered "no," acknowledging that she was unlicensed. B explained, "I briefly worked at a hospital before the transfer of pharmacy dispensing, but after the change I did not perform procedures because there were no drugs," and added, "I was older and my eyesight was poor, so I quit a long time ago."
By contrast, A, the person called the 'injection aunt,' posted photos wearing a doctor's gown on social media and claimed, "I am a former professor at Inner Mongolia Fokang Medical University Hospital," but later deleted all posts and disappeared. The group 'Doctors wishing for a fair society' (Gonguimo) refuted the university A mentioned as "a nonexistent ghost medical school," further intensifying the controversy.
The Korean Medical Association Organization also issued an official statement, saying, "A has been confirmed as a person without a domestic medical license," and pointed out, "The acts related to Park Na-rae are clearly unlicensed medical practice in violation of Article 27 of the Medical Service Act." The association emphasized, "Medical procedures can only be performed by licensed medical professionals, and home visits or injections by nonmedical persons cannot be justified."
Meanwhile, a petition was even filed calling for the 'injection aunt' to be banned from leaving the country. On the 13th, Im Hyun-taek, former president of the Korean Medical Association Organization, said on social media, "I received a reply from the Ministry of Justice regarding the emergency request to ban the departure of the person called the injection aunt." The ministry explained, "For matters under investigation, if a request is made by related agencies, whether to impose an exit ban can be reviewed under the Immigration Act."
A total of six complaints and accusations related to Park Na-rae have been confirmed. On the 15th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief said at a regular press briefing, "There are five cases filed against Park Na-rae and one case filed by Park Na-rae." Park Na-rae's former managers alleged workplace harassment including verbal abuse, special injury, proxy prescriptions, nonpayment of production fees, and being on constant standby for personal errands, and pursued legal action. In response, Park Na-rae countersued her former managers on attempted extortion charges.
In addition, Park Na-rae is under investigation over allegations of illegal medical practice and for not registering a one-person planning agency. Park Na-rae's side said their position is that the medical professional 'injection aunt' conducted a legitimate house call, but the related allegations have not been resolved.
As the controversy spread, Park Na-rae ultimately suspended all broadcasting activities. She stepped down from MBC's I Live Alone, Save Me! Homes, and tvN's Amazing Saturday, and halted web entertainment and new program productions entirely.
The police said, "Investigations of complainants and accusers are currently underway, and since cases have been filed, we will investigate strictly following procedure." They added that regarding allegations of illegal medical practice, "Because it is at an early stage, we will carefully verify the facts." With the emergence of the 'ringer aunt,' who admitted to being unlicensed, the controversy has moved beyond simple allegations to questions of criminal liability and whether awareness was possible. Depending on the investigation results, the fallout is expected to grow. Attention is focused on whether the truth will be clearly revealed through investigation and fact-finding.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]