A former manager who had accused comedian Park Na-rae of power harassment has been arrested on charges including attempted extortion, raising interest in whether the nearly eight-month-long controversy will be resolved.
Park Na-rae's side told OSEN on the 21st, "I heard that former manager A was arrested on the 16th. The police plan to hand the case over to the prosecution," they said. A is reported to be currently detained in a detention center, and another manager, B, is expected to be transferred to the prosecution without detention.
Former managers of Park Na-rae filed for a provisional seizure of real estate worth 100 million won at the Seoul Western District Court on Dec. 3 last year, claiming workplace harassment, proxy prescriptions and unpaid production fees. They then filed a complaint with the Seoul Gangnam Police Station accusing Park Na-rae of special injury, defamation by false statements and violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
As mutual exposés continued and a battle over the truth ensued, Park Na-rae also sued her former managers on charges of attempted extortion, and later filed additional charges of embezzlement in the course of duties, prolonging the fallout. Park Na-rae later underwent police questioning twice in February. About four months later, A was arrested.
According to the police, former manager A of Park Na-rae is accused of demanding an amount equivalent to 10% of the company's 2024 sales, saying they would expose false facts alleging that Park Na-rae had used company funds privately for an ex-boyfriend and others. The police are also investigating allegations that A embezzled about 30 million won in company funds.
Jang Hyun-oh of the law firm Kangsim, who recently announced he had taken A's case, said in a comment on his YouTube channel about this, "We are currently meticulously re-examining the investigative records from law enforcement agencies, including the arrest warrant, and the claims of the previous legal team," and added, "As counsel, I will do my utmost with responsibility to guarantee the client's right to defense and to accurately determine the facts between both parties."
After sharp differences in positions, A's arrest brought a new phase to a case that had been ongoing for nearly eight months. With A detained and the case handed over to the prosecution, the investigation is expected to gain further momentum.
Interest in Park Na-rae's return has therefore increased. In addition to conflicts with her former managers, Park Na-rae suffered significant image damage as a celebrity from various exposés, including the "jusahimo" controversy. Because she had been active on popular variety shows such as MBC's "I Live Alone," the blow was considerable. Ultimately, Park Na-rae withdrew from all programs she was appearing on and suspended entertainment activities to focus on resolving the matter.
In the end, attention is focusing on whether Park Na-rae, who has paused activities for nearly eight months, will resolve all suspicions and controversies and return, and how she can recover her damaged image.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]