Broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo decides on a spontaneous trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan. [MBC's 'I Live Alone']
Broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo decides on a spontaneous trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan. [MBC's 'I Live Alone']

An episode of MBC's variety program "I Live Alone" featuring broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo's trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan, will undergo a formal review by the Broadcast and Media Communications Review Committee.

The committee recently received viewer complaints about the Almaty episode and plans to proceed with an official review, according to Sports Kyunghyang.

The disputed scenes aired on Aug. 14 and Aug. 21. Jeon was shown deciding on his destination after spotting an airport departure board, then renting a car and driving himself around the city. After the episodes aired, viewers raised questions about whether the filming timeline matched the ticketing records and whether Jeon held the proper driving credentials required in Kazakhstan.

Complaints submitted to the committee called for a close examination of the original ticket issuance time, any prior coordination with Almaty's tourism authorities, and the legal documents submitted when renting the car. Under local law, a Korean international driver's license alone is not sufficient — drivers must also present the original license along with a notarized Russian-language translation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had provided guidance on this requirement through the embassy's website on multiple occasions in the past.

The production team acknowledged that it had contacted the embassy only on Aug. 25 — after the controversy had already erupted — and said it had "belatedly confirmed, following the broadcast, that a notarization process is required for renting a car locally."

The production team's shifting stance on sponsorship also drew scrutiny. After the city of Almaty disclosed on its official website that it had provided production support, MBC revised its earlier statement. The broadcaster said no financial support had been received, but acknowledged receiving assistance with administrative procedures and on-site filming coordination.


min3654@heraldcorp.com