KBS Issues Apology After Damage to UNESCO Heritage Site During Drama Filming

The production team of KBS2's new drama, 남주의 첫날밤을 가져버렸다 (The Night of the Male Lead), has come under fire for allegedly damaging the UNESCO World Heritage site, Byeongsan Seowon, located in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. KBS issued an official apology on January 2, 2025, acknowledging the incident and expressing regret for any distress caused to viewers.

In their statement, KBS explained that the production team had received prior filming permission for Byeongsan Seowon at the end of last year. However, during the setup of props, they faced complaints from visitors regarding the use of nails on the cultural heritage site. KBS stated, "Regardless of the reasons, we recognize the seriousness of the situation and sincerely apologize. We are currently discussing how to accurately assess the situation and the best methods for restoration. The drama's representatives are in contact with Byeongsan Seowon officials to confirm the situation and negotiate restoration procedures."

KBS further committed to discussing preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future and reiterated their sincere apologies to everyone affected by the filming activities.

The controversy was initially raised by architect Min Seo-hong, who claimed on Facebook that the production team had damaged the pillars of Byeongsan Seowon, a designated cultural heritage site. According to Min, the staff responded to protesting citizens by asserting that they had already obtained permission from the city of Andong, dismissing concerns about the damage.

Byeongsan Seowon is designated as Historic Site No. 260 and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Andong city officials and Byeongsan Seowon representatives reported that they requested the KBS production team to restore the site around 4 PM on the same day. A representative from the Andong Cultural Heritage Department stated, "While filming permission was granted, there was no agreement regarding any installations on the cultural heritage site. The filming permit explicitly prohibits any acts that would damage the heritage."