KBS Apologizes for Cultural Heritage Damage Amid Production Challenges
KBS has faced criticism following the controversy surrounding the damage to the historic Byeongsan Seowon during the filming of its new drama, '남주의 첫날밤을 가져버렸다' (The Male Lead's First Night). In a meeting held on February 3, KBS disclosed that the filming crew had used nails at the cultural site, leading to public outcry. Kim Young-jo, head of the KBS Drama Center, expressed deep regret over the incident, stating, "We sincerely apologize for the damage to the cultural heritage and will strive to prevent such occurrences in the future."
During the meeting, Kim acknowledged the lack of a prompt response on January 2, attributing it to confusion among the team. He explained, "Our props team was understandably frightened, and while they attempted to provide accurate information, we needed to verify the facts ourselves. There was significant chaos that day, and we regret the delay in addressing the situation."
Kim further elaborated on the challenges faced by the production team, citing the demanding nature of filming schedules, limited budgets, and the constraints of the 52-hour workweek. He noted, "The reality is that the production process for dramas carries a high risk of accidents."
He also pointed out that due to insufficient TV license fees, many programs lack assistant directors, and in this particular drama, there was only one KBS staff member present on set. This shortage of personnel contributed to the inadequate handling of the situation, especially with many freelancers involved who may not have been fully aware of the protocols.
Kim committed to enhancing training for external staff to prevent future incidents and requested understanding of KBS's current dire circumstances.
The controversy first came to light on January 2 when architect Min Seo-hong shared on social media that the filming crew had damaged Byeongsan Seowon. KBS later acknowledged that the production team had received prior filming permission but faced complaints from onlookers about the use of nails on the cultural site. KBS expressed its regret over the seriousness of the situation.
Following the incident, Andong City filed a complaint against KBS for cultural heritage damage and requested the complete destruction of all footage filmed at Byeongsan Seowon. KBS has decided to discard all footage from the filming at the site, and on February 7, the Andong police referred three members of the props team to the prosecution for violating laws related to the preservation and utilization of cultural heritage.
