Park Na-rae. Yonhap News
As comedian Park Na-rae became embroiled in allegations following former managers’ revelations of ‘power abuse’ and stepped down from the MBC variety show ‘I Live Alone’, where she had been for nine years, a past remark by Lee Hyo-ri is drawing renewed attention.
On the 8th, via her social media, Park Na-rae stated, “I have decided to suspend broadcasting activities until everything is neatly resolved.” She added, describing herself as “a comedian whose job is to deliver laughter and joy,” and explained the hiatus by saying, “I can no longer cause trouble to the programs and my colleagues.”
Park Na-rae debuted as a 21st-term KBS open-recruitment comedian and built popularity through MBC’s ‘I Live Alone’ and ‘Where Is My Home’. In 2019, she won the Grand Prize at the MBC Entertainment Awards, and the following year she received the Best Female Variety award in the TV category at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
While actively working as a female variety entertainer, Park Na-rae became embroiled in controversy on the 4th when former managers came forward alleging they had suffered ‘power abuse’. The former managers reportedly claimed that Park Na-rae continually assigned personal tasks such as snack runs or cleaning up parties, and demanded their presence at drinking gatherings, effectively forcing them to be on ‘24-hour standby’.
In particular, it was reported that there were claims of being subjected to verbal abuse for not drinking alcohol, and even of being injured by a glass thrown in anger by Park Na-rae.
TVING variety show ‘Seoul Check-In’
TVING variety show ‘Seoul Check-In’
Meanwhile, an old remark Lee Hyo-ri made on TVING’s variety show ‘Seoul Check-In’ about Park Na-rae’s drunken behavior is also being revisited online.
During that broadcast, while Lee Hyo-ri and Park Na-rae were dining, Lee Hyo-ri called Hwasa. Hearing that Lee Hyo-ri and Park Na-rae were together, Hwasa was surprised, and when Lee said, “I slept here,” Hwasa reacted with surprise once again.
Hwasa asked, “There are times you call at 4 to 5. Did you have a wild night?” and Lee Hyo-ri said, “We drank, and I wanted to sleep, but Narae kept opening the door. I briefly thought, should I hit Narae on the head with a soju bottle, should I knock her out? I do yoga these days and try to live kindly. But last night, for a moment…”
