Comedian Park Na-rae underwent a second police investigation in connection with the case in which she sued her former managers.
According to reports, Park Na-rae appeared at the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul at about 8 p.m. on the 14th and was questioned as a complainant for about six hours until 2 a.m. the next day. This came about a month after the first investigation on Dec. 19 last year.
Earlier, Park Na-rae sued two former managers on charges of attempted extortion and embezzlement in the course of work. The police also conducted an investigation of former manager A as a suspect on the 20th of last month. However, controversy arose when it became known that A left for Las Vegas, U.S., two days after the investigation and has been staying there for about three weeks.
In response, A's side explained to a media outlet, "I am staying in the United States for health reasons," and "All scheduled complainant and suspect investigations have already been completed, and if additional investigation is necessary I will return immediately."
On the other hand, the former managers filed for a provisional seizure of real estate worth 100 million won at the Seoul Western District Court last month, alleging workplace harassment, proxy prescriptions, and nonpayment of advance fees against Park Na-rae. They then filed a criminal complaint with the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on charges including aggravated injury, false statements defaming character, and violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
In response, on the 5th of last month Park Na-rae filed a complaint against the former managers on charges of attempted extortion, and on the 20th of the same month filed an additional complaint on charges of embezzlement in the course of work. The two sides have exchanged multiple complaints and countercomplaints and are currently awaiting the judgment of investigative agencies.
As the matter spread, Park Na-rae temporarily suspended all broadcasting activities. She left MBC's I Live Alone and tvN's Amazing Saturday, where she had been a regular cast member, and said, "There are parts that need to be calmly verified for factual accuracy, so I am proceeding with legal procedures. I will not make any further comments."
In an official statement, Park Na-rae said, "As a comedian whose job is to bring laughter and enjoyment, I judged that I could no longer be a nuisance to the programs and my colleagues," and "I will suspend broadcasting activities until everything is neatly resolved. I bow my head and apologize to those who believed in and supported me until now."
Meanwhile, attention is focused on whether former manager A, who left Korea and is staying in the United States, will return. A YouTuber said on air, "If the charges of embezzlement, defamation, and attempted extortion are proven true, the question of whether he returns will become a key issue," and "If he does not return, criminal responsibility could concentrate on the other managers who remain in the country."
The investigation is currently under way, and depending on the police's conclusion the fallout is expected to grow. < [Photo]
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