The new KBS2 drama The first night with the Duke He found himself involved in disputes following revelations that his production team caused damage to Byeongsan Seowon, a site of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designated during filming. In a press conference held in D-Cube City, Guro-Gui, Soul, on 11 June, the director Lee Woong-Hee publicly apologized for the accident.
“I first want to express my sincere excuses for having aroused concern because of the accident of the damage to the cultural heritage during the production process”, Director Lee said, bowing his head in front of the press.
The accident occurred in December 2024 when the stage objects were set on the historic site using nails in ten different locations, including the iconic Manderu pavilion and its wooden beams (Dongjaeboigi). This improper installation of equipment led to physical damage to one of the precious architectural sites in Korea.
Director Lee recognized full responsibility, “It was entirely our fault. All the videos shot on the site have been discarded. We have completely revised our guidelines for filming for the cultural heritage sites and we will monitor the damaged areas in consultation with the experts.”
The cast also faced the dispute. The main actor Ok Taecyeon commented, “This accident was an alarm bell for both the staff and the cast”, While the co-protagonist SNSD SEOHYUN added, “We have to make sure that something like this never happens on any shotting set.”
The first night with the Duke It is a romantic fantasy drama that tells the story of a university student who finds himself trapped in a romantic novel. Despite the recourse, the series was previewed on June 11 with a solid departure, ensuring a national level of 3.3%, according to Nielsen Korea.
As the calls grow for a more rigorous supervision when shooting on the cultural heritage sites, the apologies of the production team and the corrective actions mark a step towards responsibility. However, the accident remains a story felt on the conservation of cultural history between modern entertainment activities.
