The Disney+ series "Hyunhok," starring actors Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, sparked controversy after its production crew allegedly finished filming in Jeju Island and illegally dumped trash in a forest.
The production team apologized, saying, "Filming ended late and it was dark, so we were unable to thoroughly finish the site."
On the 28th, internet user A posted on his social media account a video alleging that a certain drama production crew left trash in a Jeju forest after filming.
The footage shows the forest littered with various trash. Plastic bottles, plastic bags, disposable cups, as well as butane canisters and work gloves were visible.
The post was later captured and spread online. A, who first exposed the illegal dumping, did not reveal the drama's name, but the crew was later identified as the Disney+ production team for "Hyunhok" based on actor faces on a coffee holder and other clues.
Internet users reacted, saying, "Ordinary trash is a problem, but butane canisters are really dangerous," "This isn't the first time we've seen posts like this — why doesn't the production team follow basic rules?" and "No matter how tired and exhausted they are, shouldn't they restore the site after filming?"
As the controversy continued, SHOWBOX apologized. SHOWBOX said, "Filming ended late and the site was dark, so we were unable to finish thoroughly," adding, "As soon as we became aware of the situation, we apologized to the production site and relevant agencies and asked for their understanding, and we immediately collected the trash. Everything has now been cleaned up."
It added, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by not properly cleaning the site after filming," and said, "We will manage more thoroughly going forward and take care to prevent this from happening again."
A, who first raised the issue, later commented, "The drama filming seems to have been on Sunday the 24th, and I recorded the video on Wednesday the 27th," saying, "Someone removed some of the trash after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and when I checked the next morning some trash was still around."
A added, "Even if it was dark, they should have been more careful..." and said, "It's unfortunate that people who work in harsh conditions to create art are smeared because some people act outside basic decency."
She added, "I'm sorry that the actors' names were mentioned prominently, but I hope the production team takes steps to prevent recurrence and engages in deep reflection."
This is not the first time a drama production's nuisance has surfaced. In 2023, the production team of tvN drama "Castaway Diva" was criticized for failing to remove a pile of stones used as props on a Jeju beach and later restored the site.
In January, the KBS TV drama "The First Night With the Duke" drew controversy when members of the production inserted nails into the wooden pillars of the cultural property Byeongsan Seowon during filming. As a result, three people involved with the drama team received suspended prosecutions.