KBS has issued a public apology following allegations of damage caused to a cultural heritage site during the filming of its upcoming drama “The First Night With the Duke” (working title).
KBS Issues Apology for Cultural Heritage Damage During Filming of ‘The First Night With the Duke’
On January 2, a netizen raised concerns on social media, revealing that nails had been driven into Andong Byeongsan Seowon, a historic Confucian academy designated as Historic Site No. 260 and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This sparked widespread criticism over the preservation of Korea’s cultural heritage.
Later that day, Andong City Hall confirmed that filming permission had been granted for the site. However, they emphasized, “The conditions of the permit explicitly state, ‘The installation of additional structures and any actions that may damage the cultural heritage within the protected area are prohibited,’ and, ‘Filming must be conducted in a manner that does not affect the safety and preservation of the cultural heritage.’”
In response, KBS issued an official apology.
“The production team had obtained permission to film at Andong Byeongsan Seowon at the end of last year. However, during the process of setting up props, a visitor at the site raised objections, questioning how nails could be driven into a cultural heritage site to hang props,” the statement read.
“Regardless of the reasons, KBS recognizes the seriousness of the situation that occurred on-site and deeply regrets what has happened,” it continued. “We are currently working to fully understand the details of the incident and are discussing the best possible methods for restoration.”
“The First Night With the Duke” is a highly anticipated romance fantasy drama. It follows the story of an ordinary college student who finds her soul transported into a minor character within a romance novel, leading to an unexpected romantic entanglement with the obsessive male lead. The drama stars Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun and 2PM’s Taecyeon.
KBS pledged to address the issue and ensure better oversight to prevent such incidents in the future.