"I Live Alone" (I Live Alone) issued a second statement as Jun Hyun-moo's impromptu trip to Kazakhstan on the show came under suspicion of being staged.
On the 31st, MBC's I Live Alone posted on its official website a "notice regarding filming in Kazakhstan," saying, "Hello, this is the production team of I Live Alone. The Kazakhstan episode did not receive any monetary sponsorship or production funding from the Almaty City Tourism Authority," while also stating, "We disclose that the necessary administrative procedures for local filming and filming cooperation required for on-site production were received and that filming proceeded smoothly," and announced its official position.
Earlier, on the 14th and the 21st, I Live Alone showed Jun Hyun-moo taking a 2 Days & 1 Night trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan, using his break when there were no broadcasts.
Arriving at Incheon Airport, Jun Hyun-moo looked at the electronic board full of flight schedules and impulsively chose Almaty, Kazakhstan. He literally bought plane tickets on the spot, booked accommodation and a rental car, enjoyed the trip, and visited a lamb restaurant recommended by Ku Sung-hwan. He also drove 10 hours round trip to find an accommodation with a great view. However, after the broadcast aired, SNS and online communities said that the process of renting a car differed from reality, and critics called it unrealistic that dozens of staff spontaneously bought plane tickets and booked accommodation, sparking "sponsorship allegations."
Above all, the controversy intensified when Almaty City mentioned the I Live Alone travel content on the Kazakhstan government website and introduced it as "having received support from the Almaty Tourism Authority." Complaints poured in that Jun Hyun-moo and the broadcaster had deceived and mocked viewers by hiding that it was sponsored.
On the 25th, I Live Alone drew a line, saying, "We did not receive filming support or sponsorship in relation to this Kazakhstan trip," and explained that Jun Hyun-moo's trip to Kazakhstan proceeded exactly as shown on the broadcast, and that "just before departing for Kazakhstan at the airport, he submitted an international driving permit and passport requested by the local rental car company and rented a vehicle."
It added, "After the broadcast there were inquiries about how to use local rental cars, and upon checking with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, we belatedly confirmed that a separate notarization procedure is required. The embassy said that many Koreans have suffered locally from this issue and that it will provide guidance again and take measures to prevent visitors from suffering damage."
But the staging controversy did not subside, and six days later I Live Alone issued a second statement again, and compared with the first statement that "there was no filming support or sponsorship regarding the Kazakhstan trip," it has curiously changed its tone to say that "we received the necessary administrative procedures for local filming and filming cooperation required for on-site production, and filming proceeded smoothly," drawing attention.
[Photo] I Live Alone
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