KBS Apologizes After “First Night With the Duke” Drama Is Reportedly Reported to Police

KBS2’s new drama The First Night With the Duke, starring 2PM’s Taecyeon and Girls' Generation’s Seohyun, came under fire after the production team reportedly drilled nails into the wooden structures of Byeongsan Seowon—a recognized national cultural asset and UNESCO World Heritage site—to hang props . A police complaint was filed, and prop staff members were referred for prosecution under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act .

KBS held a press conference on June 11. Director Lee Woong Hee offered a formal apology:

“We deeply disappointed many people due to the cultural heritage damage incident at Byeongsan Seowon during the production process. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize.

It was clearly our fault, and all the footage shot at the site has been scrapped. KBS has also established new guidelines for filming involving cultural heritage sites. I’m not trying to boast about taking responsibility, we’re currently under investigation by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the police, and I just want to say we’ve taken the best possible measures we could at this stage.

Because of the nature of the wood material involved, we were told the site requires ongoing observation. Rather than beginning restoration immediately, we plan to continue monitoring the situation closely.

This K-Drama was meant to bring energy and joy to people’s everyday lives, but instead, we caused distress with this controversy. I am truly sorry.”

The production said they have moved filming to Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province . Meanwhile, the drama premieres June 11 at 9:50 PM on KBS2 . The team stated they plan new guidelines when working with heritage sites to ensure this won’t happen again.