South Korean TV personality Park Soo-hong has been cleared of allegations that he threatened the head of a food company.
According to police and Park’s legal team on Nov. 7, the Gangnam Police Department concluded on Oct. 20 that there was no criminal suspicion in the intimidation case and closed it without referring the matter for prosecution.
The food company’s CEO, identified only as A, had filed a complaint last June claiming Park’s attorney pressured him with remarks like “Get on your knees and beg” and “You should be asking us to spare you,” alleging the comments were made under Park’s direction.
Park’s side countered that framing the incident as a celebrity power play was “plainly false,” saying any tough language came while demanding that a company―which had used Park’s likeness without permission for over a year―honor its contract. “There was no coercion,” they said.
Investigators likewise found no evidence that Park’s camp improperly sought financial gain or intended harm to anyone’s person or reputation, according to the decision.
“This complaint was a classic attempt to damage Park Soo-hong’s image and gain leverage in a legal dispute,” his representatives said, adding they are preparing legal action against those who defamed him.
Separately, Park remains in a civil battle with the same CEO. In September 2023, Park’s team sued, claiming the company used his face in ads for about a year without authorization and seeking approximately 496 million won in contractual payments. The court issued a settlement recommendation, but the defendant objected, delaying a final ruling.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)