KBS Filming Crew Responsible for Repeated Cultural Heritage Damage? Large Nails Hammered in Mungyeong Saejae

The KBS drama filming team is facing controversy over allegations of hammering nails into the pillars of the Andong Byeongsan Seowon, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for the purpose of setting up props. The controversy arose from a photo taken by architect Min Seo-hong, which shows the KBS drama production team allegedly nailing into Byeongsan Seowon. This incident is not the first case of cultural property damage by the KBS drama filming team. In 2007, the filming team of the KBS drama “Dae Jo Yeong” hammered dozens of large nails and wire into the fortress walls and pillars at the first and second gates of Mungyeong Saejae, which are designated cultural properties protected under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. The nails and wire were used to secure flags and weapons during battle scenes, leaving significant damage, including holes in the walls, wooden doors, plaques, and pillars. Damaging a national historic site like Mungyeong Saejae could lead to penalties of imprisonment for more than three years or fines up to 150 million won.