500 Million Won Demand? Never Happened, Says Park Narae's Jailed Ex-Manager

Two former managers of broadcaster Park Narae appeared in court on September 29 for the first hearing of their joint extortion trial at Seoul Western District Court, with the lead defendant denying almost every charge against him.

Shin, who arrived in a pale green prison uniform while his co-defendant Lee concealed his face with a mask, is the first to mount a public defense since the pair's falling-out with Park Narae became public last December. Shin was indicted in custody by the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office; Lee was indicted without detention.

What the prosecution says

Prosecutors allege that Shin and Lee threatened to expose Park Narae for allegedly using company funds for personal purposes, specifically to benefit a former boyfriend, and then demanded a sum equivalent to 10% of the company's 2024 revenue as the price of their silence. The figure worked out to roughly 500 million won. The pair never actually received the money, so the charge is classified as attempted extortion.

Shin faces two additional charges separately: embezzling approximately 44 million won by transferring company funds to his own corporate entity without authorization, and diverting a contract deposit meant for Park Narae into that same entity.

The defense argument

Shin's attorney was blunt at the hearing. "We do not accept the charges," the lawyer said, arguing that Shin had a legitimate right to receive severance and other post-resignation payments from Park Narae, that no threat of exposure was ever made, and that no demand for 500 million won ever took place.

On the embezzlement side, the defense offered a partial concession. The attorney acknowledged some of the fund transfers but claimed they were either performance-based payments under a prior agreement or carried out with Park Narae's explicit approval. "The defendant never personally transferred the money without consent," the lawyer said.

Co-defendant Lee did not enter a plea on the 29th; his position will be stated at the next hearing, scheduled for October 20.

How it got here

The dispute surfaced in December last year when the former managers filed a complaint against Park Narae, accusing her of workplace abuse and illegal conduct. Park denied the allegations and filed a counter-complaint, charging the pair with attempted extortion and embezzlement.

The fallout was severe enough that Park suspended all broadcast activity, a hiatus that is still ongoing. In July, Seoul Gangnam Police forwarded a separate case against Park to prosecutors on charges of aggravated assault and violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. Park's position is that she did throw a glass on the floor but that the act was not directed at any specific person.

With Shin contesting most of the case and Lee yet to speak, the trial is set to move slowly. The next date is October 20.