Controversy Erupts Over Cultural Heritage Damage in New Drama Starring Seo Hyun

The new KBS2 drama, 남주의 첫날밤을 가져버렸다 (The Night of the Male Lead), featuring singer and actress Seo Hyun, has come under fire for allegedly damaging a national heritage site. On January 2, architect Min Seo Hong took to social media to report that the production team was causing harm to Byeongsan Seowon, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Andong, Gyeongbuk.

According to Min, on December 30 at around 3 PM, he witnessed the filming crew setting up props inside the historic site, with some staff members nailing lanterns to wooden pillars. He noted that several lanterns were already hanging from the pillars of the main building, Mandae Ru. When he confronted the staff alongside an older gentleman, they dismissed his concerns, claiming they had received permission from the Andong city government and suggested he contact the city hall for further inquiries.

Feeling that this was unacceptable, Min reached out to the cultural heritage department at Andong City Hall, where an official confirmed that filming permission had been granted. However, when Min inquired whether the staff was aware of the damage they were causing by nailing into the heritage site, the official seemed taken aback and promised to issue an immediate removal order. While the production team may have had filming permission, the act of damaging a national heritage site clearly fell outside the scope of that permission, leading to widespread criticism.

남주의 첫날밤을 가져버렸다 (The Night of the Male Lead) is a romantic drama that follows a protagonist who unexpectedly spends a night with the male lead from a novel, despite being a minor character. The show has garnered attention for its lead actors, Seo Hyun and Ok Taecyeon.

Ironically, Seo Hyun is known for her strong sense of historical awareness, often visiting historical sites on Memorial Day and Independence Day, and sharing messages of remembrance for fallen heroes on her social media. Given her reputation, the news of cultural heritage damage occurring during her drama's production is likely to be shocking for her. Furthermore, Seo Hyun has recently faced challenges, including a leg injury during filming, adding to her difficult period.

As the filming team's careless attitude and defensive responses draw criticism, the production team of 남주의 첫날밤을 가져버렸다 (The Night of the Male Lead) has stated they are currently looking into the matter.