KBS Drama The First Night With The Duke Faces Backlash for Damaging Heritage Site

The highly anticipated KBS drama The First Night With The Duke, starring Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun and 2 PM’s Taecyeon, has come under fire after its filming allegedly caused damage to the Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The controversy emerged after reports suggested that the production team drilled nails into the walls of the historically significant site to hang props, sparking outrage among the public and heritage preservationists.

Seohyun and Taecyeon, who star in the drama, faced criticism for the damage, with many questioning the show’s respect for cultural preservation. The incident occurred despite the production team obtaining prior permission to film at the Andong-based site last year. However, the situation escalated when a passerby observed the drilling and raised concerns about the appropriateness of such actions at a protected heritage location.

On January 2, 2024, KBS issued an official apology, acknowledging the gravity of the incident. The network expressed regret and stated that they were investigating the details of the incident. KBS assured the public that steps would be taken to restore the damage and emphasized their commitment to ensuring such a situation does not occur again.

In the statement, KBS said, “We deeply regret the incident that occurred during the shooting of The First Night With The Duke. The production team obtained prior permission to film at Andong Byeongsanseowon last year, but during the process of installing props, a passer-by observed the team drilling a nail into the structure. They protested, citing the inappropriateness of such actions at a protected heritage site.”

Despite the controversy, The First Night With The Duke is drawing significant attention, with its unique plot involving a college student who finds herself transported into the body of a minor character in a romance novel. However, the filming controversy has overshadowed its production, with many viewers expressing disappointment over the lack of consideration shown for cultural preservation.

KBS has promised to take extra precautions in future productions to prevent any damage to historical sites and pledged to restore the affected area.

Read Also;

Chen’s memorable debut in India: collaborating on Hindi songs.