MBC Shares Statement About Drama Extra Caught In Controversy + Bans Individual From Filming Sites

May 5, 2023

MBC has responded to a controversy regarding an extra from their upcoming drama “Lovers” (literal translation).

On May 4, MBC released a statement announcing that the actor in question would not be appearing in the drama and that they had terminated their contract with the external company providing background actors.

Warning: mentions of suicide and sexual assault.

A day prior, a mother (hereafter “A”) who lost her two daughters uploaded a YouTube video campaigning for the boycott of MBC’s upcoming drama “Lovers.” The video outlined how A’s daughter (hereafter “B”), who had been promoting as a background actress, filed a police complaint in 2004 after being sexually assaulted by 12 people, including the head of her agency and her casting manager. She added that B was further victimized by the police and threatened by the perpetrators throughout the investigation, ultimately leading to her suicide in 2009. B’s sister, who introduced her to the job, was also revealed to have committed suicide.

The video then explained that among the perpetrators was someone who had been cast as an extra in “Lovers.” According to A, a request was made for the perpetrator be taken off the project but MBC did not take any action.

Read MBC’s statement below:

This is the MBC production team. We are taking viewers’ concerns very seriously with regards to the supporting cast management company for the drama ‘Lovers.’ Currently, an external professional company for supporting actors is participating in the production of ‘Lovers’ and we’ve confirmed that the person in question has visited some [filming] sites.

As MBC takes into consideration the thoughts and concerns of viewers, following the first measure of prohibiting this person from accessing the production site, we’ve decided to terminate our contract with the [management] company immediately in order to completely rule out any possible appearances.

MBC will do our best with production until the end so that the drama ‘Lovers’ may begin its first broadcast amidst viewers’ love and interest. Thank you.

“Lovers” is MBC’s upcoming historical romance drama taking place in the Joseon Dynasty that tells the story of a man who has declared that he will not marry, falling in love with a women who still dreams of love after two failed marriages. Namgoong Min will star as Lee Jang Hyun, while Ahn Eun Jin will play his love interest Yoo Gil Chae. The drama is set to premiere in the second half of the year.

Source: Soompi