Broadcaster Jun Hyun-moo's impromptu trip to Kazakhstan, which was to be featured on I Live Alone, is facing a fierce backlash over manipulation allegations.
On the MBC I Live Alone episodes that aired on Aug. 14 and 21, Jun Hyun-moo, who had a 2 Days & 1 Night break amid a busy schedule, headed to the airport on a whim to make the most of the time, decided on a destination on the spot, issued a plane ticket, and then booked a rental car and accommodation, among other scenes.
When some reacted that it was a "plan" rather than "impromptu," I Live Alone dismissed the related suspicions, saying, "There was no filming support or sponsorship received for this Kazakhstan trip." Especially after an acquaintance who had worked with Jun Hyun-moo mentioned his impromptu nature, the controversy seemed to end as a minor incident.
However, when the Almaty city government of Kazakhstan stated on its official website that "(the filming of I Live Alone) was carried out with the support of the Almaty Tourism Department," the dispute escalated into a battle over the facts, and eventually I Live Alone said on its website on Aug. 31, "There was no monetary sponsorship or production funding received from the Almaty Tourism Department for the Kazakhstan broadcast," while also stating, "We reveal that the local filming proceeded smoothly after receiving administrative procedures necessary for local shooting and filming cooperation required for on-site operations."
The position changed within a week. The oddly shifted attitude — first saying there was no support, then a week later saying they received administrative procedures and filming cooperation and proceeded smoothly — touched viewers' raw nerves. Critics poured in saying it was broadcast manipulation and deception of viewers, given that what was emphasized as "impromptu" turned out to be a "plan." Nevertheless, I Live Alone poured fuel on the fire by promoting this week's broadcast on its official social media with Kim Shin-young's planned trip as a keyword.
In particular, it emerged that I Live Alone made a belated inquiry after the controversy, not before the broadcast, regarding local driving qualifications in Kazakhstan that it had initially said it had addressed. According to a media report on the 3rd, the I Live Alone production team called the embassy on July 25 to ask whether Korean international driving permits are recognized in Kazakhstan.
Instead of inquiring before the broadcast and then filming, they checked belatedly after the controversy and said, "After the broadcast there was an inquiry 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 citizens suffer damage locally because of such issues and that it would provide guidance again to prevent visiting citizens from suffering damage."
In response, an internet user filed a petition with the Korea Communications Standards Commission regarding the manipulation allegations of I Live Alone. The author said they submitted a request for broadcast review to the Korea Communications Standards Commission via the national petition system asking it to confirm whether the claims about the impromptu trip — "no plan/impromptu trip," "deciding the destination at the airport," and "purchasing plane tickets on the spot at the airport" — match the actual facts. In particular, the author argued that it is necessary to verify the factualness and objectivity of the broadcast by comparing the timing of Jun Hyun-moo's initial ticket reservation/issuance/payment with the actual time the scene of purchasing a ticket at the airport was filmed.
The initial incorrect response ultimately caused an even bigger fire. Attention is focused on how I Live Alone, which dug its own grave, will restore the trust it broke itself.
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