Various controversies surrounding comedian Park Na-rae continue, and attention is again focused on her past on-air confession about her "drinking habits" and Lee Young-ja's reaction to it.
The scene in question was shown on the Nov. 10, 2015, episode of the tvN entertainment program "Hyun-jang Talk Show Taxi." At the time, guests included Park Na-rae, San E, and Solbi, and Lee Young-ja and Oh Man-seok served as the MCs.
That day Lee Young-ja opened with a teasing remark, saying, "I heard Park Na-rae was talking recklessly," and Oh Man-seok chimed in, "I heard she was afraid her past might be exposed as her recognition rises." In response, Park Na-rae lowered herself, saying, "My past is a bit messy."
Park Na-rae continued, "I once drank from noon until 2 a.m. in Hongdae. I was completely out of it," and confessed, "People who saw that scene sent tip messages to the radio show I used to host saying, 'She was totally wasted,' and 'She was garbage.' Honestly, it was a bit scary."
When Lee Young-ja asked, "Is there really anything that absolutely can't be exposed on air?" Park Na-rae hesitated for a moment and then answered, "It can't be broadcast." She went on to say, "I have a bit of a drinking problem," referring to her drinking habits, but that portion was all bleeped out.
The cast who heard the story were at a loss for words for a moment, and Lee Young-ja, in particular, could not hide her shock, saying with a stern expression, "Isn't she crazy?" She added, "Park Na-rae's popularity should stop here," producing both laughter and tension at the same time. Park Na-rae rushed to contain the situation, saying, "Please let this be as if it never happened. Please make it something only we know."
At the time it was passed off as a laughable incident, but recently Park Na-rae has been embroiled in consecutive allegations related to drinking, accusations of bullying by a former manager, and allegations of illegal medical procedures, leading to renewed mentions of the remarks and scenes.
Park Na-rae's former managers claimed damages during their employment, alleging verbal abuse, being forced to attend drinking parties, workplace harassment, special injury, errands for proxy prescriptions, and unpaid hosting fees. On the 3rd they filed an application for a property provisional seizure at the Seoul Western District Court and also announced they would file a lawsuit seeking about 100 million won in damages. The former managers claim, "We were verbally abused for not drinking, and I was injured by a thrown glass."
In response, Park Na-rae countersued the former managers on extortion charges and took legal action. Regarding the allegation that she received medical procedures from a person known as the "injection aunt" at a nonmedical facility, she rebutted through legal counsel, saying, "It was a lawful home-visit type of medical service."
As the controversy spread, Park Na-rae announced on the 8th that "she will suspend broadcast activities until all allegations are clearly resolved," declaring a period of self-reflection. Accordingly, she has stepped down from MBC's "I Live Alone," "Save Me, Holmes," and tvN's "Amazing Saturday," among others.
As remarks that were once consumed as jokes are now resurfacing amid the current controversy, public scrutiny has become even stricter. Attention is focusing on the forthcoming legal battles and explanation process surrounding Park Na-rae.<
[Photo] OSEN DB, tvN
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