Amid allegations that comedian Park Na Rae instructed her former manager, identified as A, to secure compromising material against her previous agency, it has been confirmed that Park Na Rae and JDB Entertainment experienced major disagreements during contract renewal talks that escalated into emotional conflict.
According to a Star News report on January 15, Park Na Rae requested a signing fee higher than what JDB Entertainment had initially expected during renewal discussions in 2024. The two sides also showed stark differences in opinion regarding her future career direction, leading to tense exchanges between Park and the agency’s CEO. Ultimately, the long running partnership of nine years came to an end, with Park Na Rae leaving JDB and moving to her one person agency, n.Park.
Former manager A, who is currently locked in a dispute with Park Na Rae, joined JDB Entertainment in 2023 but resigned the following year after receiving a recruitment offer from Park. Speaking to Star News, A stated, “During the renewal negotiations, Park Na Rae initially requested an excessively high signing fee. Later, during a private conversation between Park Na Rae and CEO Park, the discussion escalated into a verbal argument.” He added, “CEO Park was emotionally hurt because of Park Na Rae, and JDB ultimately chose not to continue with her.”
CEO Park currently serves as the representative director of JDB Entertainment. In response, JDB Entertainment clarified that financial matters were not the primary reason for the split. “The difference in professional opinions was greater than the issue of money,” the agency stated. “Although Park Na Rae initially requested a high signing fee, that matter was sufficiently adjusted through discussion.”
The agency continued, “Park Na Rae was open to adjusting the signing fee after considering industry conditions, and we had reached a relatively smooth agreement. We also planned to maintain the existing profit distribution structure. The real issue was the direction of her future activities. When discussing what types of programs she should pursue moving forward, our opinions did not align. Both sides held firm positions, and the gap was significant enough to strain the relationship emotionally.”
JDB added, “From the company’s standpoint, renewing the contract would have meant paying a signing fee and committing to another three years together. Due to the scale of the disagreements, we ultimately notified her first that the renewal would not proceed.” Previously, on January 12, A publicly referenced the renewal talks while disputing Park Na Rae’s claims, bringing renewed attention to the internal conflict between Park and JDB Entertainment.
A stated that both Park Na Rae and JDB attempted to retain him. “When Park Na Rae recruited me, everyone was aware that I could handle multiple roles, including on-site manager, team leader, department head, and executive-level duties,” he said. “I followed Park Na Rae and handled all responsibilities for one year, and she expressed satisfaction with my performance.” However, A also made a controversial allegation, claiming, “At the time, Park Na Rae asked me to obtain recorded audio to secure leverage against JDB’s CEO. I sent the recording to Park Na Rae and her boyfriend, and I still have it stored.” This claim has since sparked widespread backlash.
JDB Entertainment is a comedian-focused agency led by close friends and fellow comedians Kim Jun Ho and Kim Dae Hee. The company was founded in 2015 by Kim Dae Hee following the shutdown of Koko Entertainment. The name JDB is derived from Kim Jun Ho’s “J,” Kim Dae Hee’s “D,” and “B” for Brothers.
Meanwhile, Park Na Rae has been at the center of multiple controversies since late last year, including allegations involving workplace abuse, illegal medical practices, and embezzlement tied to former managers A and B. The two former managers have filed a civil lawsuit seeking approximately 100 million KRW (about 68,155 USD) in damages. They claim to have suffered workplace harassment, serious injury, proxy medical prescriptions, and unpaid operational expenses during their employment. According to their statements, they were subjected to verbal abuse after refusing to drink alcohol, and one manager alleges he was injured after being struck by a glass thrown by Park.
In response, Park Na Rae has filed a criminal complaint accusing her former managers of attempted extortion and occupational embezzlement, stating that their claims are false and intended to demand a large sum of money.
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