Yu Jae-seok recalled an anecdote from the past involving Cha Taehyun and his manager, creating a heartwarming atmosphere. With recent manager power-abuse controversies shaking the entertainment industry, the contrasting story drew even more attention.
On the 6th broadcast of the SBS variety program Whenever Possible, the two MCs Yu Jae-seok and Yoo Yeonseok appeared with "Tteum friends" Cha Taehyun and Kim Do-hoon.
That day Cha Taehyun immediately took control of the atmosphere with his characteristic boisterous energy from the moment he appeared. Making his fourth appearance, Cha Taehyun, nicknamed the "ratings fairy," has recorded top ratings each time he appears. Yu Jae-seok burst into laughter as soon as he heard his voice, saying, "My stomach flipper is here again."
Cha Taehyun said, "These days all my daily work is finished before 3 p.m.," sharing his leisurely recent life, then jokingly provoked the production staff by asking, "So did you call me because you had free time?" which drew uproarious laughter. He added, "A drama is coming out in 2027, so please keep holding on to Whenever Possible until then," jokingly reserving his spot through the year after next.
The conversation naturally flowed into past stories. During a so-called "latte talk," Cha Taehyun recalled 2002, saying, "It was one year after My Sassy Girl." Yu Jae-seok, remembering Cha Taehyun's popularity at the time, said, "When Cha Taehyun became famous, he filled the streets. He was the nation's first love."
A particularly attention-grabbing passage involved a story about managers. Yu Jae-seok added, "Managers at the time drove the most expensive sports cars," and Cha Taehyun, looking embarrassed, laughed it off, saying, "When everyone had gone crazy." It evoked a time when stars and their managers enjoyed their heyday together.
This scene drew more attention as a natural contrast to comedian Park Narae's situation, who has recently been at the center of controversy over legal disputes with former managers. Park Narae was sued at the end of last year by former managers on allegations including workplace harassment, special injury, proxy prescription, and unpaid hosting fees. In response, Park Narae has also sued her former managers on charges of attempted extortion and embezzlement in the course of business, continuing the legal battle.
In particular, the situation has grown more unfavorable to Park Narae as the court granted a provisional real estate seizure worth 100 million won requested by the former managers. Legal experts have analyzed that allegations such as sexual acts in a vehicle and injury from thrown drinkware could also be recognized as workplace harassment, further spreading the controversy.
As conflicts and power-abuse controversies surrounding relationships between celebrities and managers continue to emerge, the anecdote Cha Taehyun shared from the past creates an intriguing contrast that draws attention.<
[Photo] OSEN DB / broadcast capture
[OSEN]