Comedian Park Na-rae, who paused activities after former managers accused her of workplace abuse and misconduct, has spoken out.
Last month, Park said she would stay quiet and address the dispute only through legal channels. But as the back-and-forth spilled into public view, the outlet released a pre-recorded interview, citing editorial judgment.
Addressing the ex-managers’ workplace bullying claims, Park said, “If I’d done anything like that, I should pay up, get on my knees, apologize―whatever it takes.” She added, “But that never happened.” She explained that she initially tried not to escalate matters―even considering letting some falsehoods slide―before deciding against a settlement, saying, “If I let this go, someone else could get hurt.”
Park has filed criminal complaints against the former managers, including allegations of embezzlement and defamation. One former manager, identified as Director A, is accused of siphoning roughly 60 million won through a personal corporation he established. Park said, “There was a 2 million won airline ticket charge, and there were other signs of small amounts going missing.” On claims that her agency operated without proper registration, she countered, “I submitted all required documents and was even told publicly that the registration was complete―but that turned out not to be true.”
The ex-managers have accused Park of workplace abuse, causing bodily injury, delayed wages and reimbursement of personal expenses, excessive work hours, failing to execute employment contracts, and obtaining proxy prescriptions.
Park denied the allegation that she threw a wineglass and injured someone, calling it “not true.” She acknowledged she had called out staff when props weren’t prepared properly, adding, “If that qualifies as workplace harassment, I can apologize for that.”
On delayed pay and reimbursements, she said, “Salaries were never withheld. In cases of delays, we reconciled monthly and transferred funds immediately.” She added, “Each person had a corporate card, so there wasn’t a structure where expenses could pile up. If you check the statements, it’s hard to argue there were outstanding payments.”
Pushing back on claims of excessive hours, Park said, “We reviewed the actual schedules, and the hours they’re alleging just don’t add up. There were crunch periods, but the average monthly days off were sufficient.” As for the lack of formal contracts early on, she admitted, “Shortcomings during the company’s early operations are on me,” while noting, “Employment status and contract formats were decided in consultation with the individuals involved.”
Park partially acknowledged the proxy prescription issue. “I did ask twice,” she said. “I recognize that was wrong and I apologize. If that’s a legal problem, I’ll accept any consequences.”
Police are currently investigating the claims and counterclaims, including alleged workplace bullying, embezzlement, and unlawful medical practices. Final determinations will depend on the outcome of the probe.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)