'Spontaneous Trip' Claim in 'I Live Alone' Ultimately Backtracks with Third Explanation: "Tickets Were Pre-Booked" [Star Issue]

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'I Live Alone' production team ultimately bowed their heads amid allegations of fabrication surrounding broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo's so-called spontaneous trip to Kazakhstan.

On the 4th, the production team of MBC's variety program 'I Live Alone' (hereinafter referred to as 'I Live Alone') explained: "The episode featuring Jeon Hyun-moo's trip to Kazakhstan was produced by following Jeon Hyun-moo, who enjoys spontaneous trips, in his daily life. The term 'spontaneous trip' used in the broadcast meant that Jeon Hyun-moo decided on a travel destination and departed on the same day without pre-determining the destination or flight tickets."

The team further stated: "To prepare for the possibility of overseas filming, the production team reviewed flight options and filming conditions in advance. They 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, they determined that Kazakhstan was highly likely to be selected. Therefore, if a trip to Kazakhstan was decided, they pre-booked staff flight tickets and requested local filming cooperation to enable immediate response."

However, the team added: "If Jeon Hyun-moo chose a different destination on the day or failed to secure a flight ticket to Kazakhstan, those staff tickets would be cancelled. Any unexpected situations arising during this process were also planned to be naturally captured as part of the trip."

'I Live Alone' production team stated: "Jeon Hyun-moo confirmed available flights departing from the airport on that day and personally purchased a flight ticket to Kazakhstan at the scene. 'In emphasizing the expression "spontaneous trip," we failed to fully consider that viewers might interpret the entire process of travel and filming as having been conducted without any prior preparation.'"

The team also addressed controversies surrounding the car rental process in Kazakhstan. It was previously reported that a separate notarization procedure is required to rent a vehicle in Kazakhstan, raising questions about whether it would be possible to rent a car locally within a short timeframe if the trip were truly spontaneous.

The production team explained: "Jeon Hyun-moo personally reserved the vehicle at Incheon Airport and, upon arrival in Kazakhstan, submitted copies of his passport and international driving permit as instructed by the rental company before receiving the car. However, after the broadcast, we received criticism regarding insufficient documentation. Upon verification through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, we learned that renting a vehicle within Kazakhstan requires notarization procedures from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Korea—a fact we only realized late. We sincerely apologize for our oversight in not carefully verifying local regulations."

'I Live Alone' featured Jeon Hyun-moo's spontaneous trip to Kazakhstan in its broadcast on the 14th of last month. However, following the broadcast, allegations of fabrication emerged due to multiple staff members purchasing flight tickets simultaneously and the fact that a car rental in Kazakhstan, which reportedly requires a separate notarization procedure, was resolved in just about 40 minutes.

Furthermore, doubts intensified after it became known that the official website of the Kazakh government stated that Almaty City supported 'I Live Alone's' filming with assistance from the Almaty Tourism Bureau.

On the 25th of last month, the production team issued a first statement: "We did not receive any filming support or sponsorship." However, as the controversy persisted, they released a second statement: "Filming proceeded smoothly after receiving necessary administrative procedures for local filming and cooperation for on-site operations. This led to further controversy, as the initial denial of all support was subtly rephrased to imply only financial sponsorship was absent."

Ultimately, the 'spontaneous trip' controversy extended to a third explanation. While the original broadcast emphasized that cast members selected travel destinations and created itineraries on-site without a fixed plan, it was confirmed that significant pre-production preparations were made with Kazakhstan in mind. Through the third explanation, the production team officially acknowledged that they had not only pre-booked staff flight tickets but also requested local filming cooperation in advance.

Consequently, the core of the controversy extended beyond simply whether "the trip was prepared in advance." The key issue became the extent of the discrepancy between the 'spontaneity' conveyed to viewers on the broadcast and the actual preparation process undertaken by the production team. Moreover, the escalation of the controversy was influenced by the sequential revelation of new facts during the explanation process.

The production team stated: "'I Live Alone' has always prioritized conveying the daily lives of its cast members as authentically as possible. Nevertheless, in this broadcast, we leaned too heavily on the judgment that it should not compromise the program's realism and immersion, failing to provide sufficient explanation about the actual filming process. As a result, we caused misunderstanding and confusion among viewers and were unable to respond promptly and clearly to subsequent questions. We sincerely apologize for our insufficient judgment and response from the production team. We will take the criticism and reprimands seriously. Returning to our original intentions, we will reevaluate our production methods and attitudes from the ground up and strive to create more carefully crafted broadcasts."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original