“Is the production team a shaman?” Jeon Hyun-moo remains silent amid controversy over his “improvised trip,” despite backlash even after an apology on “I Live Alone” [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I Live Alone" aired without any separate mention amid controversy over an impromptu trip.

On the the 4th broadcast of MBC's "I Live Alone" (hereinafter "I Live Alone"), scenes depicting Kim Shin-young's daily life while running a pop-up store abroad were shown.

The broadcast that day introduced the segment without any specific mention by Jeon Hyun-moo, stating, "There is very good news. A long-held wish of member Kim Shin-young has come true." Following this, Kim Shin-young's daily life was revealed without further comment. In particular, the program highlighted her travel preparation process and routine, emphasizing that it was a "planned trip."

The variety show "I Live Alone" is currently under scrutiny for allegations of broadcast manipulation. On the 14th of last month, Jeon Hyun-moo was shown embarking on an impromptu trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan. However, following the broadcast, questions were raised about whether filming could have taken place without prior preparations such as ticket issuance by multiple staff members. In particular, suspicions of broadcast manipulation grew over how a car rental in Kazakhstan, which typically requires notarization, was arranged within a short timeframe. Compounding these concerns, when the Almaty Tourism Organization used Jeon Hyun-moo's trip for promotional materials, viewers responded by questioning whether he had received local support.

Initially, the producers of "I Live Alone" denied allegations of manipulation and even fueled controversy by posting a promotional social media message describing Kim Shin-young's trip as a "planned journey." As the controversy persisted, they issued a third official statement and provided further clarification once again.

Earlier that day, the production team stated, "We prepared for the possibility of overseas filming by reviewing flight options and shooting conditions in advance," adding, "Considering Jeon Hyun-moo's long-standing interest in specific travel destinations and the flight situation at the time, we judged it highly likely that Kazakhstan would be selected." This explanation indicates that staff had already purchased airline tickets based on anticipated travel destinations for Jeon Hyun-moo and secured local cooperation for filming.

Regarding the rental car controversy, it was stated that "the vehicle in question was directly reserved by Mr. Jeon Hyun-moo at Incheon Airport, and after arriving locally, he submitted copies of his passport and international driver's license as instructed by the rental company before receiving the car. Following the broadcast, we were able to confirm deficiencies in the relevant documents." It was also noted that "this was an oversight by the production team for failing to thoroughly verify local regulations."

However, despite a series of explanations, the backlash continued. In particular, the production team's explanation that they had prepared in advance anticipating the possibility that Jeon Hyun-moo would choose Kazakhstan drew persistent criticism for being unconvincing. Netizens responded with comments such as "Is the production team a shaman?", "Tell us the lottery numbers," and "At this point, they should open a fortune-telling shop."

Ultimately, the broadcast underwent formal review procedures by the Broadcasting Media Communication Ethics Committee after viewer complaints were filed. The submitted complaints reportedly included requests for verification of the initial ticket issuance time, prior coordination details with Almaty city tourism authorities, and legal documents submitted at the time of car rental.

Article 14 of the Regulations on Broadcasting Standards stipulates that broadcasts must cover facts accurately and objectively, and must not present unclear content as fact in a manner that confuses viewers.

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*This content was translated by AI.