All claims regarding advance ticketing, filming coordination, and the rental car controversy were accurate... 'I Live Alone's self-inflicted wound [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

The incorrect expression of "spontaneous trip," the Almaty city's cooperation support, and the lack of notarization procedures for rental cars were all correct. MBC's 'I Live Alone' (hereinafter 'I Live Alone') has finally issued a belated apology regarding the controversy over Jeon Hyun-moo's spontaneous trip to Kazakhstan.

The production team of 'I Live Alone' released a lengthy official statement on the 4th, addressing various controversies surrounding the episode featuring Jeon Hyun-moo's trip to Kazakhstan.

In its broadcast on August 14, 'I Live Alone' presented a scenario in which Jeon Hyun-moo, with only one backpack and just 29 hours of rest amidst a busy schedule, arrived at the airport, saw the flight display board, and immediately chose Almaty, located seven hours away. The show depicted him purchasing his plane ticket on-site, as well as securing a rental car and accommodation in quick succession, delivering thrilling vicarious satisfaction to viewers.

However, immediately after the broadcast, tourists' testimonies poured out stating that renting a car on the spot for foreigners was complicated due to local communication networks and complex authentication procedures. Additionally, criticism continued regarding the setting itself, which claimed that dozens of staff members secured seats on the same flight as Jeon Hyun-moo on the day of departure, arguing that this was implausible within the broadcasting system.

Furthermore, claims emerged that the 'I Live Alone' production team had already decided on Almaty as the filming location a week before shooting, and that flight tickets for both Jeon Hyun-moo and the production staff were prepared in advance. Critics also pointed out, "Even if Jeon Hyun-moo's ticket was purchased on the day, how were the remaining 6 to 7 tickets obtained?"

As the controversy grew, the brief explanation released by the production team also sparked public outrage.

Previously, the production team had stated, "We have not received any filming support or sponsorship for this Kazakhstan trip."

Subsequently, the 'I Live Alone' production team revised its statement: "Regarding the Kazakhstan episode, we confirm that no financial sponsorship or production funding was received from the Almaty City Tourism Office. Filming proceeded smoothly after receiving necessary administrative procedures for local filming and cooperation for on-site operations."

Ultimately, in a lengthy post released on the 4th, the production team stated: "The episode featuring Jeon Hyun-moo's trip to Kazakhstan was produced by following his daily life as someone who enjoys spontaneous trips. The term 'spontaneous trip' used in the broadcast meant that Jeon Hyun-moo decided on his travel destination and departure date on the day of travel without pre-determining his destination or flight tickets." They added, "To prepare for the possibility of overseas filming for this episode, the production team reviewed flight options and filming conditions in advance. We examined various possibilities focusing on nearby countries that could be reached within a limited timeframe. Considering Jeon Hyun-moo's usual travel interests and the flight situation at the time, we judged that choosing Kazakhstan was highly probable."

Continuing, "In case a trip to Kazakhstan was decided, we pre-booked staff flight tickets and requested local filming cooperation in advance so we could respond immediately to filming," they stated. "If Jeon Hyun-moo chose another destination on the day or failed to secure a flight ticket to Kazakhstan, we planned to cancel those staff tickets and naturally incorporate any unexpected situations arising during that process as part of the trip." They also added, "Jeon Hyun-moo confirmed available flights departing from the airport on the day and directly purchased his flight ticket to Kazakhstan on-site. However, in emphasizing the expression 'spontaneous trip' in the broadcast, we failed to fully consider that it could be perceived that all processes of the trip and filming were conducted without any prior preparation."

Regarding support from the Almaty City Tourism Office, the production team stated: "We received administrative procedures for overseas filming and on-site cooperation from the Almaty City Tourism Office. The previously stated position that 'there was no support' meant there was no financial sponsorship or production funding. However, this expression could be misinterpreted as meaning there was absolutely no administrative or filming cooperation locally, so we provided this supplementary explanation." They added, "We apologize for causing confusion due to our failure to provide sufficient explanation during this process."

They also stated: "Regarding the rental car usage, Jeon Hyun-moo personally booked the vehicle at Incheon Airport and, upon arrival in the local area, submitted copies of his passport and international driver's license according to the rental company's instructions before receiving the vehicle. However, after receiving criticism regarding the lack of relevant documentation following the broadcast, we confirmed through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan that a notarization procedure by the Kazakh Embassy in Korea is required to rent a vehicle within Kazakhstan, which we only realized belatedly." They admitted this was "a lapse by the production team for not carefully verifying local regulations."

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*This content was translated by AI.