Comedian Park Narae has been embroiled in controversy over multiple allegations including manager power abuse, illegal medical procedures and embezzlement, and the remarks she made when receiving the grand prize six years ago are receiving renewed attention.
Park Narae was active on MBC's I Live Alone and won the grand prize at the 2019 MBC Entertainment Awards.
At the time Park Narae said, "I'm 148cm tall, right? I'm very short. But standing up here I can see the tops of people's heads for the first time. I've never thought I was in a high place or above anyone. The view I can see is your chin or your nostril. So it's been so happy to always look up from your floor," she said.
She continued, "I'm not a good person. I'm not a virtuous person either. But as an entertainer Park Narae, when I'm on TV I believe a single word or action of mine can influence everyone. Even if the person Park Narae is bad, the entertainer Park Narae will work hard to give kind laughter. I will really work hard, and I will always remain humble and low. I'm small anyway, so I can't go high. Thank you," she said.
She described herself as a "bad" person, and now, six years later, amid various controversies the remark is being revisited.
Park Narae has recently been hit with multiple allegations after former managers' disclosures, including power abuse, proxy prescriptions, illegal medical acts and embezzlement. The former managers claimed verbal abuse, forced personal errands and unpaid hosting fees during her time at her one-person agency, applied for a property provisional seizure worth 100 million won at the Seoul Western District Court, and filed a complaint with the Seoul Gangnam Police Station on embezzlement charges.
In response, Park Narae's side denied the allegations, saying the former managers pressured her with false claims after being refused a demand for 10% of the company's revenue, and filed a countersuit accusing them of attempted extortion. However, the scandal grew after evidence emerged that Park Narae received illegal procedures from an unlicensed medical practitioner known as "Jusai-mo."
Ultimately Park Narae left major entertainment programs including MBC's I Live Alone, Save Me! Homes and tvN's Amazing Saturday, and halted all broadcasting activities.
After the controversy Park Narae issued a final statement via video, saying, "The matters currently being raised are having their facts legally verified, and I will not make additional public remarks during that process."
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast capture
[OSEN]