Showbox Issues Official Apology for "The Tyrant" Controversy
Disruptive Filming Practices Persist Amid Weak Penalties
Controversy over disruptive behavior at drama filming locations resurfaces from time to time, and this time, a drama starring Suzy and Kim Seonho has come under scrutiny. Recently, an online user posted on their personal account, "After filming a drama, they left trash in the forest... Sigh, along with the coffee holders sent by fans..." and uploaded a video.
In the video shared by the author, trash left as is in a natural forest in Jeju Island is recklessly piled up. Instagram
In the video shared by the user, trash left as is in a natural forest in Jeju Island is recklessly piled up. The user took a photo of the coffee truck cup holders sent by fans to the filming site for the actors and wrote, "Do the fans know?" The user continued, "After filming, to just leave it like this in the forest... I really have nothing to say," expressing their frustration. They also added, "What drama could possibly be filming here?" as they filmed the trash left in the forest, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Other users responded, "Seriously, if this becomes a controversy, it will negatively affect the drama's success, so why do they do this?" "I saw them filming early Sunday morning, and they left it like this," and "Are there still filming crews like this?" Based on the cup holder photo, viewers of the video speculated that the filming site belonged to the Disney+ series "The Tyrant."
As the controversy grew, Showbox, the production company of "The Tyrant," released an official statement and apologized. A Showbox representative said, "Because filming ended late and it was dark, we were unable to thoroughly clean up the site. Once we became aware of the situation, we apologized and explained to the filming site and related agencies, and immediately cleaned up the trash. Everything has now been cleared." They added, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by not properly tidying up after filming, and we will be even more careful and thorough in future shoots."
Why Do Disruptive Filming Incidents Continue? Is It Due to Weak Penalties?
Incidents involving disruptive behavior by filming crews, including dramas, are not new. In 2023, the crew of the Netflix series "Thank You For Your Hard Work" caused controversy after leaving trash behind near a filming site in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. At the time, the production team stated, "We had a cleaning plan and completed it afterward," but citizens' criticism was strong. In another case, the production team of the tvN drama "Deserted Island Diva" caused controversy for environmental destruction by illegally leaving stones on a Jeju beach, with some filming conducted without administrative procedures. Such cases of "disruptive filming" by well-known crews continue to occur, with repeated issues nationwide such as noise, abandoned trash, and missing permits.
The production team of the tvN drama "Deserted Island Diva" caused controversy over environmental destruction by illegally leaving stones on a Jeju beach. tvN
One of the reasons these problems persist is the relatively weak penalties. Article 8 of the Waste Control Act prohibits illegal dumping of waste, and violators can be fined up to 10 million won. A small amount of daily dumping is fined 50,000 won, failure to use designated bags is fined 200,000 won, dumping from a vehicle is fined 500,000 won, and business-related waste dumping can be fined up to 1 million won. In cases involving large amounts or hazardous waste, or repeated violations, criminal penalties may apply. However, when it comes to illegal dumping of trash by filming crews, legal consequences are typically limited to administrative fines.
Experts and officials from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission point out that the current level of penalties is too low and law enforcement is inconsistent, which allows disruptive filming and illegal dumping to continue. In reality, fines are rarely imposed, and administrative procedures are often not carried out in a timely manner, leading to criticism that the measures are ineffective.
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