[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] Comedian Park Na-rae is preparing to register her one-person agency as a popular culture and arts planning business.

On the 14th, a representative for Park Na-rae told E-Daily, “We were unable to submit the documents required to register as a popular culture and arts agency because former managers A and B, who are currently involved in a legal dispute, were listed as registered directors.” The representative added, “The lawsuit to revoke the registered director status of the two former managers was concluded about a month ago. Since then, we have been going through the procedures to register the agency.”
To register an agency with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, consent from the registered directors—including the company representative—is required, along with documents such as a criminal history check for sex offenses. However, Park Na-rae is currently embroiled in legal disputes with former managers A and B—who were registered directors of N Park—over allegations of abuse of power and embezzlement, which made it difficult to proceed with the registration process. According to a representative for Park Na-rae, she filed a declaratory judgment action against the two former managers with whom she is in litigation, and now that this lawsuit has been concluded, she is proceeding with the subsequent steps.
Under the current Act on the Development of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry, anyone wishing to operate a popular culture and arts planning business—such as an entertainment agency—must complete registration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Operating an entertainment agency or similar business without registration is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.
Meanwhile, Park Na-rae’s former managers, identified as A and B, filed a complaint with the Gangnam Police Station alleging that Park Na-rae had subjected them to abuse of power. They accused her of aggravated assault, defamation by spreading false information, and violations of the Information and Communications Network Act, and also submitted a petition to the Gangnam Branch of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office. Park Na-rae dismissed Mr. A’s allegations as “groundless,” filing a counter-complaint against him for attempted extortion and an additional complaint accusing him of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). On the 10th, the Gangnam Police Station referred Park Na-rae to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office without detention on charges of throwing a drinking glass at her former managers (aggravated assault) and spreading false information about them (violation of the Information and Communications Network Act).