Broadcaster Park Na-rae referred to prosecutors over 'gapjil' allegations against former managers

Broadcaster Park Na-rae, 41, has been referred to prosecutors over allegations of gapjil — abusive behavior by a person in a position of power — against her former managers.

The Seoul Gangnam Police Station forwarded Park's case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Friday, recommending indictment on charges of aggravated assault and violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

The referral comes about seven months after two of Park's former managers filed a complaint against her in December last year, alleging aggravated injury, defamation through false statements and violations of the information and communications network law.

The former managers claim they were subjected to workplace harassment, saying they were verbally abused for not drinking alcohol and were struck by a glass at Park's home in August 2023 and again in August 2024, sustaining injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment, according to medical certificates they submitted.

They also alleged aggravated injury, proxy prescription of medication and unpaid work expenses, and said Park made personal requests, including private errands, and assigned them duties related to her family.

Park filed a counter-complaint against the former managers on charges including attempted blackmail. She denied the allegations across three police interviews — in February, March and May — but police concluded that the gapjil claims were substantiated.

Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate separate allegations that Park received illegal medical procedures from a person known as "Jusa Imo," or "Injection Aunt," in an apparent violation of the Medical Service Act.