Suspicions of Park Na-rae being exploited as a street performer... Father speaks out amid abuse controversy: "She must come back" ('Curious Story Y')

*This content was translated by AI.

'Curious Story Y' follows Park Na-rae and her grandfather, Park Cha-gyu.

SBS's 'Curious Story Y,' airing at 8:50 p.m. on the 31st, tracks the whereabouts of Park Na-rae following the controversy over alleged abuse of a pet dog used as a street performer.

Last winter, a short video posted on social media sparked public outrage. An elderly man was performing on a cold street with a small Maltese dog by his side, and a donation box left by passersby stood in front of him. Suspicions arose that the dog was being used to earn money, and the man quickly became the center of an animal abuse controversy.

The dog's name is Park Na-rae. A local animal protection organization, suspecting abuse, urgently separated Na-rae from her grandfather. Grandfather Park Cha-gyu was immediately labeled as "the owner who exploited a pet dog for street begging." However, the grandfather's account differed greatly: he claimed to have raised Na-rae like his own child for eight years and denied ever abusing her or using her to make money.

Park Cha-gyu said, "I only have my daughter as family. Na-rae, you must come back to your dad. I'm suffering so much."

To the grandfather, Park Na-rae was not just a pet dog. She was his one and only family, named after a beloved dog who passed away 15 years ago.

However, after meeting with representatives from an animal protection organization who identified themselves as local residents, the grandfather's life and Na-rae's routine changed completely. The organization claimed that the grandfather failed to properly care for the sick Na-rae and used her under the guise of street performances to beg for money. In contrast, the grandfather insists everything was a misunderstanding. On one side, an organization that rescued an abused pet dog; on the other, an owner who lost his only family. Their accounts of the same incident diverged from the very beginning.

The animal protection organization stated, "We can't help but think that the owner viewed Na-rae not as a being capable of feeling pain or emotions, but simply as a means to earn money."

Nearly half a year after the emergency separation, the grandfather remains unaware of Na-rae's whereabouts. There were reports that the local government requested the animal protection organization return Na-rae, yet she still has not come back. Where exactly is Na-rae now, despite being "rescued"? Was the decision made that day truly for Na-rae's sake, or did it simply take away her only family from an elderly man?

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.