'I Live Alone' PD, absent on scheduled event day..Jeon Hyun-moo 'impromptu trip' controversy raises concerns [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

'I Live Alone' production team faced controversy over alleged manipulation in a broadcast featuring an impromptu trip concept to Kazakhstan and subsequently missed a scheduled event.

On the 1st, the '2026 Brand of the Year Awards' ceremony was held at Seoul Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. MBC's 'I Live Alone' (hereinafter 'I Live Alone') was named the five-year Yeon Sok (수상) winner in the observational entertainment program category, but PD Jeong Ji-woon, who was scheduled to attend, did not show up.

PD Jeong was expected to attend the photo wall and the event to share acceptance remarks. However, it was reported that PD Jeong announced his decision to be absent earlier that morning.

Speculation is emerging that the production team may have felt burdened by recent allegations of manipulated broadcasts on 'I Live Alone,' leading them to skip other events.

In last month's broadcast of 'I Live Alone' featuring Jeon Hyun-moo, he was shown visiting Incheon International Airport without a predetermined destination and impulsively purchasing a ticket to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Upon arrival in the country, Jeon Hyun-moo rented a car and continued his journey.

However, following the broadcast, some raised claims that the trip, which required prior preparation, was staged as an impromptu adventure. Controversy arose particularly over the fact that driving in Kazakhstan is not possible with only an international driver's license issued in Korea, and that it is practically difficult to decide on overseas filming schedules involving numerous production staff members on the same day as an impromptu trip.

The Almaty City Government of Kazakhstan also stated regarding Jeon Hyun-moo's episode that "filming was conducted with support from the city's tourism bureau and tourism marketing institutional investors." As this revealed that the travel filming had been pre-planned, the production team issued a second statement clarifying: "We confirm that the filming proceeded smoothly after receiving necessary administrative procedures for local filming and cooperation for on-site operations."

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*This content was translated by AI.