The South Korean entertainment industry is currently reeling from a series of controversies surrounding comedian Park Na-rae. What began as a dispute with her staff has escalated into a nationwide scandal involving illegal medical practices and “power abuse” (Gapjil), tarnishing her long-standing public image.

The Origin and How the Scandal Broke

In early December 2025, two former managers filed lawsuits against Park. They accused her of workplace harassment and special assault. The situation worsened when whistleblowers revealed evidence of unauthorized medical procedures.

The turning point came when the media outlet Dispatch released KakaoTalk chat logs between Park and an individual known as the “Injection Auntie”. These logs provided concrete evidence that Park had been receiving unauthorized medical treatments outside of hospital settings, sparking a massive public outcry and a formal police investigation.

Two Core Allegations

① Manager Abuse and “Special Assault”

Former managers revealed Park’s violent tendencies. They also exposed her exploitative work culture.

• Physical Violence: Manager A testified about an incident last April. Park became angry because a response was late. She threw a wine glass at the manager’s face. This caused a deep wound on his forehead. Korean law defines harm with dangerous objects as “Special Assault.” This charge leads to severe prison time. Settlement often cannot stop this prosecution.

• 24-Hour Exploitation: Managers had to stay alert 24 hours a day. Park ordered them to clean her house. She also sent them on personal errands. Managers even had to check real estate for her. “We were slaves, not managers,” they told the press.

• The Counter-Suit Controversy: Park denies all these charges. She countersued the managers for embezzlement. However, the managers submitted chat logs as evidence. These logs show Park approved their spending. The public views her lawsuit as a distraction.

② The “Injection Auntie” and Illegal Medical Acts

The main criminal issue involves unlicensed medical procedures.

• Underground Medical Network: Investigation shows “Injection Auntie” belonged to a secret network. She visited celebrity homes without a medical license. Park even received injections inside her moving vehicle. Procedures in unsterile environments carry high risks of sepsis.

• Misuse of Psychotropic Drugs: Authorities are focusing on the drug components. Evidence suggests the drips contained propofol-like sedatives. Park claims she only treated her insomnia. However, using these drugs outside hospitals violates the Narcotics Control Act.

• Proxy Prescriptions: Park also stole the identities of her managers. She forced them to get prescriptions for her. This violates Article 17 of the Medical Service Act. Experts criticize this as a way to hide medical history.

Impact on Related Celebrities and the Domino Effect

The scandal has evolved into a massive “influence scandal” across the industry.

• SHINee’s Key Suspends Activities: Key was a very close friend of Park. A photo of Auntie in Key’s kitchen became critical evidence. His agency claimed he mistook Auntie for a nurse. But the public doubts this explanation. Key has suspended all his activities and left his shows.

• Jung Jae-hyung Proves Innocence: Jung also appeared on the initial list. He immediately released all his medical records. He proved he only used legitimate hospitals. The whistleblower apologized for the mistake. Jung is now earning praise for his self-discipline.

• Ip-jjalbeun Haetnim and Influencers: YouTuber Ip-jjalbeun Haetnim(@short_mouth_sun) is under investigation too. Rumors say Park introduced her to Auntie. Authorities are checking if she received illegal diet injections. They are also investigating if she promoted these methods.

• Industry-Wide Panic: Prosecutors found the contacts of 20 other celebrities on Auntie’s phone. Many stars are losing their ads and shows daily. Insiders call this the largest “purge” in industry history.

Repercussions for the K-Entertainment Industry

The “Park Na-rae Scandal” will likely trigger systemic changes:

1. The Crisis of Long-running Variety Shows: National favorites like I Live Alone are facing their biggest crisis yet. With two main cast members (Park and Key) embroiled in legal issues, the shows have been forced to discard filmed footage and enter indefinite hiatuses, with some viewers calling for their permanent cancellation.

2. End of “Home-Care” Practices: The government will now crack down on private medical networks. The Korean Medical Association plans to investigate all “house call” practices among celebrities.

3. The Shift to Authenticity: Park’s “Narae Bar” persona has shattered. The public now values legal integrity over curated TV images. This case serves as a stern warning to all celebrities.