Comedian Park Jong-uk denies involvement in 'SBS comedian' bar brawl

As news spreads of a man identifying himself as an "SBS comedian" causing a disturbance and refusing to pay his bill at a whiskey bar in Mapo-gu, Seoul, comedian Park Jong-uk has stepped forward to personally clarify his innocence. After being identified as the suspect online, he received a flood of calls from acquaintances and released a video to draw a line, stating, "It is not me."

Park appealed for fairness by revealing his whereabouts at the time of the incident. He presented what was essentially an alibi, stating that he had been conducting a TikTok live broadcast from the afternoon of the incident until the early morning hours, and repeatedly urged, "Stop calling me; I am not the comedian who caused the disturbance."

The incident began with a report on JTBC's 'Scandal Supervisor' aired on the 15th.

According to the broadcast, on the 2nd, a man identified as A was drinking with an acquaintance, B, at a bar near Hongik University Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, when a dispute broke out with foreign customers. An informant, C, reported that during the situation, A said things like, "Why are Koreans taking the side of foreigners?", "Why do you have no manners?", and "I will make you fail."

The situation did not end with a verbal argument. It was reported that A, after introducing himself as an "SBS comedian," threw a beer mug on the floor, breaking it. He then reportedly refused to pay for the four beers and one whiskey he had ordered.

While it might seem like a simple case of public intoxication, the incident spread to the entertainment industry once it was revealed that A identified himself as an "SBS comedian." Immediately after the report, posts speculating on A's identity spread online, and the names of several comedians unrelated to the actual incident began to be mentioned.

In this process, Park Jong-uk was unexpectedly singled out.

On the 17th, Park posted an urgent clarification video on his SNS with the caption, "I am sorry for the comedian's bar disturbance." While the title might make it look like he was involved, the content of the video was the exact opposite. After starting the video by bowing his head, he explained the situation by saying, "I am sorry for the comedian's disturbance," and introduced himself as "Park Jong-uk, 16th class of SBS comedians."

The reason he posted the video so urgently was due to the calls from his acquaintances.

Park stated, "Around 9 a.m. today, I received so many calls from people I know. I received about twenty calls. They said they were calling because of the SBS comedian disturbance incident." He continued, "I am filming and posting this video quickly because I received many calls filled with concern and worry asking, 'Is it you?'"

Emphasizing that he was not the person involved, Park clarified the situation with his signature comedic sense. He said, "I understand a disturbance occurred at a Mapo bar where someone said, 'I am an SBS comedian.' Looking at the circumstances of the incident, I don't have the money to drink whiskey in Mapo."

Rather than a serious explanation of his financial situation, it was a joke using his living area and spending habits as material. Park, who currently resides in Namyangju, suggested that instead of drinking whiskey in Mapo, he would rather call his neighborhood friends and have two bowls of pork bone soup and three bottles of soju.

He further pleaded, "It's not me, the comedian who caused the disturbance, so please stop calling. Fellow comedians, please. I'm dying of exhaustion."

In response to Park's clarification, fellow comedian Lee Sang-ho also left a comment, turning the situation into a laugh. Lee joked, "Reveal what you did hour by hour that day," to which Park replied, "I did a TikTok live broadcast from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m."

However, the information released by Park is merely his own clarification and his claim regarding his whereabouts at the time. His claim regarding the TikTok live broadcast and specific timing does not hold the same weight as an official confirmation from investigative authorities, who will ultimately determine if he is the person involved. As the incident is currently under police investigation, the identity of the actual perpetrator and the specific details of the incident must be confirmed through the results of the investigation.

A police official told 'Scandal Supervisor,' "The case was handed over from the local precinct and is currently under investigation," noting that it is difficult to provide specific answers about the case.

The notable aspect of this matter is not just the incident itself, but the process by which a specific individual is summoned by name online based solely on a single clue: "SBS comedian." In the case of celebrities, there is a high possibility of being linked to unconfirmed incidents simply because of their professional titles. Once a name spreads, it is often difficult to correct the record even if the person provides a direct clarification.

In this case, because the perpetrator did not reveal a specific name but only a professional description, suspicion can spread indiscriminately to anyone with similar credentials. When online speculation outpaces official investigations, innocent third parties can become targets of social backlash.

Park has experienced this firsthand. Despite his claims of innocence, the "SBS comedian" clue led to a barrage of calls from acquaintances, forcing him to issue a public clarification via his SNS.

He is a member of the 16th class of SBS comedians and has also performed under the name Kim Geura. Since his broadcast activities, he has maintained a connection with the public through online platforms like SNS and TikTok.

In his clarification video, Park chose to address the serious allegations with humor, using his financial situation and broadcasting schedule as comedic material. However, beneath the jokes lay the genuine frustration and fatigue of being falsely implicated in a crime.

Ultimately, the confirmed facts are that a man identifying as an SBS comedian caused a disturbance and refused to pay at a bar in Mapo-gu, and that Park Jong-uk has publicly denied being that individual. The identity of the perpetrator and the specific charges remain subject to the ongoing police investigation.