PD Na Young-seok: "No sponsorship for travel destinations in Japan… That would be a disaster" — Meaningful remarks amid 'I Live Alone' controversy [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

PD Na Young-seok preemptively drew a line regarding suspicions of sponsorship for travel destinations.

In a video titled "Pani's Cost-Effective Travel Method [The Happiness of 10,000 Yen EP.1]," released on the YouTube channel 'Channel 15Y' on the 6th, PD Na Young-seok and Pani Bottle were shown heading to Matsuyama, Japan, for a "Happiness of 10,000 Yen" trip with minimal funds.

In the video, after getting off the plane, Pani Bottle turned on the camera starting from the airport. In response, PD Na Young-seok said, "So you're filming from here. You can consider that I have fully absorbed Pani's filming style."

Pani Bottle stated, "This place is very welcoming to Koreans, so there are many things Koreans can do for free," and received vouchers including bus tickets to the city center, hot springs, and cable car passes.

PD Na Young-seok said, "I didn't know this existed," adding, "It might look like we are coming here in exchange for money from the Matsuyama City government, but that is not the case."

In response, Pani Bottle also replied, "These days, doing that would be a disaster."

On the August 14 broadcast of 'I Live Alone,' Jeon Hyun-moo arrived at the airport with just one backpack for a mere 29-hour break amidst his busy schedule. The show presented a setup where he chose Almaty, seven hours away, on the spot after seeing it on an electronic display board. From purchasing plane tickets on-site to booking rental cars and accommodations, everything was carried out swiftly, providing viewers with a thrilling sense of vicarious satisfaction.

However, immediately after the broadcast, tourists poured in with testimonies stating that same-day, on-the-spot car rentals for foreigners are complicated due to local communication networks and complex authentication procedures. Criticism also continued over the premise itself that dozens of staff members secured seats on the same plane as Jeon Hyun-moo on the day of departure, which was deemed forced within the broadcasting system.

Subsequently, on the 29th, through the YouTube channel 'Entertainment Rear-Head Chief Lee Jin-ho,' it was claimed that the production team of 'I Live Alone' had already decided on Almaty as the travel destination one week before filming, and that flight tickets for Jeon Hyun-moo and the production crew had also been prepared in advance. Additionally, Lee Jin-ho pointed out, "Even if Jeon Hyun-moo's ticket is purchased on the day, how would they obtain tickets for the remaining six to seven people?"

In response, the production team had previously stated, "We have not received any filming support or sponsorship related to this trip to Kazakhstan."

In response, the production team of 'I Live Alone' revised their statement: "The Kazakhstan episode did not receive financial sponsorship or production cost support from the Almaty City Tourism Bureau. We clarify that it proceeded smoothly by receiving administrative procedures necessary for local filming and on-site cooperation required for the shoot."

As criticism continued, the production team issued a lengthy official statement: "Jeon Hyun-moo's Kazakhstan travel episode was conducted in a format where the production team followed Jeon Hyun-moo's daily life, who usually enjoys impromptu trips. The 'impromptu travel' expressed in the broadcast meant a method where Jeon Hyun-moo decides on the destination and departs without pre-arranging the destination or flight tickets." They added, "For this broadcast, the production team examined flights and filming conditions in advance to prepare for the possibility of overseas shooting. We looked into various possibilities centered on nearby countries that could be reached within limited time. Considering comprehensively the travel destinations Jeon Hyun-moo had shown interest in previously and the flight situation at the time, we judged that there was a high probability of choosing Kazakhstan."

They continued, "In case the trip to Kazakhstan was decided, we purchased staff flight tickets in advance and requested local filming cooperation so that we could respond immediately to filming." They added, "If Jeon Hyun-moo chose a different destination on the day or failed to secure a flight ticket to Kazakhstan, we planned to cancel the relevant staff flight tickets and naturally incorporate any unexpected situations arising from this process as part of the travel experience." Furthermore, they acknowledged, "Jeon Hyun-moo checked available flights at the airport on the day and directly purchased a ticket to Kazakhstan on-site. However, in emphasizing the expression 'impromptu travel' in the broadcast, we did not sufficiently consider that all processes of the travel and filming could be perceived as having been carried out without any prior preparation."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original