Broadcaster Park Na-rae's alleged power abuse controversy has once again reached a crossroads. Amid suspensions of broadcasting activities over various controversies, from the so-called "injection aunt" allegations to alleged power abuse toward a former manager, obstruction of driving charges, and demands for proxy prescriptions of obstetrician-gynecological medication, comments mixing support and criticism continue on her personal account.
After various controversies surfaced, the last post Park Na-rae left on her personal account was an apology. In the post's comment section, support such as "this too shall pass," "don't collapse, stay strong," and "it's a shame Park Na-rae is not on 'I Live Alone' these days" mixed with criticism such as "she has already paid enough, so rest," "the errand controversy crossed the line," and "don't appear on broadcasts anymore," creating a literal "mud-slinging public opinion battle."
Amid this, stylist Seo Soo-kyung, who has styled Girls' Generation and Rhee Minjung, left the comment "Narae, stay strong!!!!!!!!" which became a hot topic after receiving more than 3,000 likes. Another netizen also joined the chorus of support by leaving the comment "Please stop that. Park Na-rae, stay strong." Online reactions diverged, with some saying "support from colleagues and fans in the entertainment industry fuels sympathy," and others saying "fact-checking should come before support right now."
The catalyst for the spread of sympathy was the release of a recorded phone call with the former manager. In the early hours of the 8th of last month, part of a call between Park Na-rae and former manager A was recently released on a YouTube channel. In the recording, A, sobbing, lamented, "I don't know why it came to this," and Park Na-rae also showed emotion and continued a conversation worrying about her pet dog, family and health. Some netizens who heard it reacted, saying, "This does not sound like the tone of a call between a victim of power abuse and a perpetrator," and "Isn't Park Na-rae the wronged party?" Park Na-rae's SNS post at the time saying, "I resolved misunderstandings with my former managers," also lent weight to such interpretations.
But the former manager's side presents a different position. A's side drew a line, saying, "There was a conversation, but there was no apology or settlement," and that it was merely a call made under emotional impulse. Questions continue over the release of the recording, with comments such as "Wasn't this selectively released?" and "Only scenes favorable to public opinion were emphasized."
Above all, the worrying point is that the controversy is being consumed only in the realm of emotion. The core of this matter is not whether their relationship was good or bad, but legal judgment issues such as workplace harassment (power abuse) and alleged illegal medical practices. The former managers are claiming verbal abuse, forced constant standby, unpaid wages and severance pay, and failure to enroll in the four major social insurances, and are proceeding with criminal complaints and civil lawsuits. Park Na-rae's side has also filed a counterclaim on charges of attempted extortion and embezzlement, and the dispute over the truth has already entered the domain of investigative authorities' judgment.
Also unresolved is the issue of alleged unlicensed medical practices and proxy prescriptions by the person referred to as the "injection aunt." The police conducted search and seizure on related charges, and it has been suggested that Park Na-rae may be questioned as a witness or a suspect. Regardless of tears in the recording or past familiarity, this matter could entail legal responsibility depending on the facts.
Park Na-rae is currently suspended from all broadcasting activities. Although the release of the recording and the support of colleagues have somewhat shaken public opinion, there are still many hurdles to overcome before this can be interpreted as a "signal to return."
Internet users responded, "It's true that hearing the recording softened hearts, but the legal issues should be considered separately," "Support is fine but it's right to wait for the investigation results now," "The phrase 'please stop that' sounds like an attempt to cover up the essence," and "The longer the exposure continues, the more the core becomes blurred and it feels like public opinion is simply being worn out."
In the end, the key is the investigation results, not emotional interpretation. A recording can shake public opinion but cannot replace the conclusion of a case. That is why there are criticisms that the essence is being lost as the exposure and rebuttal drag on.
[Photo] 'OSEN DB, SNS'
[OSEN]