As former managers of TV personality Park Na-rae claim they were forced to wait around the clock at the "Narae Bar" to prepare parties and clean up, an episode in which a girl group's agency strongly discouraged them from entering the "Narae Bar" in the past is drawing fresh attention.
On the 16th, parts of tvN's 2018 show "Amazing Saturday" were recirculated on several online communities. On the broadcast, Yooa and Seunghee of the girl group Oh My Girl mentioned an anecdote about being invited to Park Na-rae's private space, the "Narae Bar."
That day, Yooa and Seunghee said they were invited to the "Narae Bar" through member Hyojung but ultimately could not visit because of their agency's firm opposition. Yooa explained the situation at the time: "Hyojung said she would take me to the Narae Bar. I like drinking culture, so I thought, 'I can finally go,' but the company said no."
In 2022, Park Na-rae appeared on SBS's "Dolsing Fourmen" and boasted that the Narae Bar, which she had run for 10 years, was a "blind date hot spot." She said, "Why would you drink at the Narae Bar? You have to be flirting, right?" adding, "There are officially 50 couples born at the Narae Bar. Unofficially, about 100."
Park Na-rae's remarks about the "Narae Bar" did not cause much controversy at the time, but they were revisited recently as former managers exposed alleged power abuse accompanied by verbal and physical assault and frequent pressure to drink.
The former managers have filed a police complaint accusing Park Na-rae of aggravated injury and other charges. In response, Park filed a countersuit accusing them of attempted extortion, began legal action, and simultaneously officially announced a halt to her broadcasting activities.