The Daegu District Prosecutor's Office's Andong branch issued a decision to suspend prosecution against the KBS drama filming team, which sparked controversy after hammering nails into Byeongsan Seowon's Man-daeru, a UNESCO World Heritage site, while claiming to attach props during the drama production.
On 2nd, the Daegu District Prosecutor's Office's Andong branch stated that it had issued a decision to suspend prosecution against three individuals connected to the KBS drama filming team, who had been reported for violating the law on the preservation and utilization of cultural heritage.
Suspension of prosecution means that while the suspicion of the crime is acknowledged, the prosecutor does not forward the suspect to trial after considering various circumstances, and unless the complainant raises a separate objection, the case is concluded.
The controversy over the damage to Byeongsan Seowon arose in January when the filming team of the KBS2 drama 'The First Night With the Duke' hammering nails into wooden pillars to attach props while shooting. The situation escalated after architect Min Seo-hong witnessed it during a visit to Byeongsan Seowon and shared it on social media.
Byeongsan Seowon is a cultural asset registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The filming team of 'The First Night With the Duke' is reported to have hammered nails into a total of seven locations, including six areas of the pavilion Man-daeru and one pillar of the dormitory Dongjae.
In response to the controversy, KBS issued an apology stating, "Regardless of the reasons, KBS recognizes the seriousness of the situation that occurred on set and feels remorseful," and has reportedly discarded all problematic footage from the filming.
As the prosecution suspends prosecution, the case will conclude unless the complainant raises a separate objection. While promising to prevent recurrence, KBS noted, "Due to the characteristics of the wood, we need to monitor it for a year, so there are no specific recovery details available yet, but we plan to keep an eye on it," drawing attention to how the situation will unfold.
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