tvN's 'Castaway Diva' starring Park Eun Bin, has been engulfed in controversy over failing to clean up the props after filming. In response, the production team has issued an apology, promising to restore the site to its original state.
According to Jeju Ilbo on November 13, there were claims that the drama left piles of rocks untouched at Hwangwooji Beach in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju, where 'Castaway Diva' was filmed.
Resident 'A' stated, "I have often seen dramas filming in Jeju, but this is the first time I witnessed such irresponsible neglect of cleaning up after filming."
Furthermore, 'A' criticized the situation, saying, "Complaints are often raised during drama filming in urban areas due to noise or traffic restrictions, but in this case, the issue seems more serious in terms of environmental damage."
There are also suspicions that the filming team used the location without receiving prior approval. Administrative cooperation and permits are essential for filming in such locations, but the drama was reportedly filmed without undergoing these processes.
An official from Seogwipo City stated, "If unauthorized use is confirmed through on-site inspections, we will proceed with administrative procedures such as restoration orders."
According to a November 14 report by media outlet OSEN, the 'Castaway Diva' production team issued an apology, stating, "We sincerely apologize to the residents for any inconvenience caused."
They continued, "Although we explained the filming in advance to residents and relevant authorities, there were shortcomings in the process and recovery. We will restore the site as soon as possible."
This is not the first time 'Castaway Diva' has faced controversy. In May, before the broadcast, a man in his 40s threw bricks at a filming location in Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, injuring a female staff member.
The man admitted to the crime during a police investigation, stating that he was annoyed by the light and noise during filming, affecting his sleep. This raised suspicions about the excessive noise pollution caused by the filming team.
Regarding this incident, the production team stated, "We will pay more attention to details at future filming locations."
Meanwhile, 'Castaway Diva' depicts the journey of Seo Mok Ha (played by Park Eun Bin), who once was a singer but became stranded on a deserted island for 15 years.
The first episode started with a viewership rating of 3.2% (Nielsen Korea nationwide paid households), and the sixth episode, broadcast on November 12, recorded a rating of 7.9%.
something so big and made of permanent materials... they should have cleaned that up, irresponsible.