Following actor Kim Soo-hyun, comedian Park Na-rae stands at a crossroads for returning to activities. As the former manager who raised allegations of Park Na-rae's abusive behavior and various controversies was arrested on charges including attempted extortion, attention is focused on whether she can clear her name and stand before the public again.
On the 21st, Park Na-rae's side told OSEN, "I heard that former manager A was arrested on the 16th. The police will transfer the case to the prosecution. I understand he is currently detained in a detention center," they said.
Former managers of Park Na-rae, including A, sparked a controversy last December by exposing allegations such as workplace harassment by Park Na-rae, unpaid production fees, proxy prescriptions and illegal medical procedures. They applied for a provisional attachment on real estate worth 10 million won against Park Na-rae at the Seoul Western District Court, and also filed complaints on charges including special injury, defamation by publicly stating false facts, and defamation via information and communications network.
Park Na-rae's side said, "Two employees who worked with Park Na-rae for about 1 year and 3 months recently left the company, and accordingly severance pay was properly provided. However, after receiving severance pay, those employees additionally demanded an amount equivalent to 10% of the company's previous year's sales," they claimed. Regarding the controversy over the one-person agency's failure to register for cultural and artistic planning business, they said, "That work was the part handled by the former employees who raised the issues, and it appears they falsely reported at the time that all registration procedures had been completed," calling it malicious slander. They have been countersuing the former managers on charges of attempted extortion and embezzlement in the course of business, continuing the confrontation.
Meanwhile, on the 16th, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul reportedly arrested A on charges including attempted extortion. The case is expected to be transferred to the prosecution on the 21st, and another manager, B, is also expected to be sent to the prosecution without detention. A is accused of demanding an amount equivalent to 10% of the company's 2024 sales from Park Na-rae, saying he would expose false information alleging she privately used company funds for a former boyfriend and others. The police are also reportedly investigating A on suspicion of embezzling about 30 million won of company funds.
With Park Na-rae in a favorable position in the public exchange with her former managers, some have suggested that the path to resuming activities may have opened. They also announced that the case sent for unregistered agency operations was being resolved, saying, "Lawsuits to cancel registered directors against the former managers have been concluded, a new registered director has been appointed and received relevant training, and registration is in its final stages." Although the most serious issue, the so-called "injection aunt" controversy that led to a report for violating the Medical Service Act is still at the police investigation stage and is not at a point where an immediate return can be discussed, the new development favoring her has increased the likelihood.
Earlier, actor Kim Soo-hyun also entered the countdown to a comeback after overcoming controversy. Kim Soo-hyun was embroiled in controversy last year over allegations that he dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. Kim Soo-hyun's side acknowledged dating the late Kim Sae-ron but countered that their meetings continued after she became an adult, and they filed a complaint for defamation by publicizing false facts against the late Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family members who raised the allegations.
They also continued to exchange public rebuttals and engage in a battle over the truth. About a year into the controversy, in May, Kim Soo-hyun's side said, "The deceased's KakaoTalk conversations made public were found to have been fabricated by altering conversations with people unrelated to Kim Soo-hyun, and the deceased's voice was also confirmed to be manipulated material generated using AI technology." The accuser has been issued an arrest warrant on charges including violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation by publicly stating false facts), violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (distribution of material taken with a camera and coercion to use recordings), and threats, with the gravity of the matter recognized.
Freed from personal life suspicions, Kim Soo-hyun kick-started a full-fledged return on the 14th by shooting an advertisement in the Philippines with the fashion brand Bench. Although lawsuits for damages with advertisers are still ongoing, a green light appeared when the court recommended reconciliation between the parties at the second hearing of the damages claim filed by outdoor brand C, it was reported. The court judged that both C and Kim Soo-hyun and his agency suffered damage from the allegations, and considering that Kim Soo-hyun's side is negotiating with other advertisers, it recommended considering resolving the dispute by withdrawing the claim while maintaining the advertising model contract and each party bearing its own legal costs. It is believed that similar opinions may be applied to other damages claims brought by other advertisers in the future.
Afterward, Bench founder and CEO Ben Chan released a photo of Kim Soo-hyun smiling brightly on the day of the commercial shoot, and Kim Soo-hyun 'regrimed' it and resumed SNS activity after about 1 year and 4 months, delighting fans. Reports say the industry inside and outside are closely watching Kim Soo-hyun's return and discussing various collaborations. Interest is also focusing on his next project and whether the Disney+ drama Knock-Off, starring Kim Soo-hyun and indefinitely postponed due to fallout from his personal life, will be released.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS
[OSEN]