Broadcast personality Park Narae has drawn renewed attention to past broadcast footage after former managers alleged she had others cook for her.
The contested footage is from a 2023 Chuseok special broadcast, in which Park Narae, under the "former in-law" concept, used large-capacity cooking oil and sacks of flour to present an unprecedented scale of holiday dishes. The ingredients reminiscent of a cafeteria and the nonstop cooking process drew attention for creating an image of a "big spender" and a "cooking expert."
But as the footage has been mentioned again recently, some netizens are focusing on the way Park Narae handled the commercial-size cooking oil. In the video, Park Narae is shown pouring the oil and appears to have used the "air intake vent hole" on the opposite side rather than the usual spout where oil comes out.
Commercial cooking oil containers have a separate air hole to facilitate airflow when pouring oil, and critics say Park Narae appeared unable to distinguish it in the scene. Some netizens responded, "Anyone who has often cooked in large quantities wouldn't be confused by that," and "It seems to align with the claims that she had others do the cooking."
On the other hand, opinions warning against hasty interpretation have also emerged, saying, "Commercial cooking oil has a different structure from typical household oil and can be confusing the first time you use it," and "It's unreasonable to conclude everything from that one scene."
This renewed attention has spread further as it ties in with the recent allegations by former managers. Earlier, the former managers claimed on a YouTube channel that Park Narae received help from managers in operating Naraeba and in the cooking process for broadcasts, and they revealed that managers handled a significant portion of large-quantity jeon cooking for holidays and kimchi-making episodes.
Park Narae has said she is pursuing legal action regarding the matter and is refraining from further comment. However, as suspicions continue, even individual moments from past broadcasts are being recalled.
Meanwhile, Park Narae has stepped down from and suspended activities on programs she was appearing on, including I Live Alone, Save Me! Homes and Amazing Saturday.
[Photo] broadcast capture
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