Park Na-rae, left, and Nam Tae-hyun / Xportsnews
Alcohol-related controversies are as soon as once more shaking South Korea’s leisure trade, with allegations starting from office misconduct to repeat drunk driving instances renewing public scrutiny of a long-criticized movie star consuming tradition.
The newest spark got here from JTBC’s investigative program, “Scandal Supervisor,” which aired on Wednesday and revisited allegations involving comic and tv host Park Na-rae. In line with the published, former managers who met Park lately to debate a doable settlement over alleged mistreatment claimed she appeared intoxicated through the assembly.
The claims rapidly ignited backlash on-line. Netizens flooded social media with reactions similar to “She ought to in the reduction of on consuming whatever the controversy,” “That is past disappointment — it’s worrying,” and “Ingesting even on this state of affairs?”
Earlier reporting by Dispatch on Dec. 4 mentioned former managers accused Park of repeatedly ordering them to run errands for consuming snacks, clear up after personal events and attend consuming classes in opposition to their will. The allegations drew specific consideration as a result of Park has lengthy cultivated a heavy consuming persona by leisure content material, most notably her self-branded “Narae Bar,” a recurring theme throughout selection exhibits and on-line platforms.
Previous remarks from Park have additionally resurfaced. Throughout an look on MBC speak present “Radio Star,” she recalled senior entertainer Yoo Jae-suk advising her, saying, “You’re doing properly proper now, however consuming can result in accidents and intervene with broadcasting, so I want you’d give up consuming.” As anecdotes about Park’s consuming habits shared by fellow entertainers flow into once more, critics say the controversy highlights deeper points tied to extreme consuming norms within the trade.
Nam Tae-hyun / Xportsnews
The talk extends past Park’s case. Alcohol-related incidents involving celebrities — from misconduct to prison offenses — have repeatedly drawn public criticism, fueling requires accountability and cultural change.
On Thursday morning, Seoul Western District Court docket held its first listening to for singer Nam Tae-hyun, who’s charged with violating visitors legal guidelines associated to drunk driving. Prosecutors mentioned Nam crashed right into a median barrier whereas trying to overhaul one other automobile on the Gangbyeonbuk-ro expressway heading towards Ilsan at round 4:10 a.m. on April 27. No accidents had been reported.
The case marks one other chapter in Nam’s troubled historical past. In March 2023, whereas underneath investigation for drug-related costs, he brought on a visitors accident whereas intoxicated and later obtained a abstract tremendous of 6 million received ($4,400).
As comparable incidents proceed to floor, critics say the leisure trade should confront not solely particular person misconduct but in addition the permissive consuming tradition that permits repeated lapses — a dialog that exhibits no signal of fading.
This text from Xportsnews is customized by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.
