Narae Park Referred to Prosecution for Operating Unregistered Agency

Unregistered Despite Last Year's Guidance Period
Park's Mother and One-Person Agency Also Referred to Prosecutors

Broadcaster Narae Park (41) has been referred to the prosecution on charges of operating an unregistered one-person entertainment agency.

Broadcaster Narae Park. Yonhap News.

The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul announced on the 14th that Park and her mother, identified as Ms. Ko, were referred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on July 9 on suspicion of violating the Act on the Development of the Public Culture and Arts Industry.

According to police, after ending her contract with her management agency in 2024, Park is accused of establishing and operating a one-person agency with her mother Ko as the representative, without registering the business as required for the entertainment management industry. Under current law, running an entertainment agency without registration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Previously, on July 10, Gangnam Police also sent Park without physical detention to the prosecution on charges of aggravated assault for allegedly throwing drinking glasses at former managers and spreading false information in violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. Former managers reportedly stated to police that, in addition to entertainment activities, Park tasked them with personal errands and family-related work, effectively having them serve as housekeepers.

Narae Park is also under police investigation for alleged violations of the Narcotics Control Act and the Medical Service Act related to receiving illegal medical treatments from an individual known as the "Drunk Aunt." The prosecution will decide on indictment for the unregistered agency operation, aggravated assault, and violation of the Information and Communications Network Act based on the referral by police.

Meanwhile, in the entertainment industry, cases are increasing where individuals are caught operating one-person agencies without proper registration due to a lack of awareness of related laws. Police have previously sent the representatives of singer CL and actor Kang Dongwon’s agencies to the prosecution on the same charges, and in March, prosecutors issued a suspended indictment for those cases.

As news spread of entertainers operating unregistered one-person agencies, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism belatedly operated a registration guidance period from September to December 31 last year to encourage voluntary registration by unregistered companies. However, it is known that more than seven months have passed since the unregistered operation by Narae Park and Ms. Ko became public, the government’s guidance period has ended, and as of today’s date, they still have not completed the registration process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.