Broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo. [Herald Muse]
Broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo. [Herald Muse]

MBC has offered a further explanation over allegations that broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo's "spontaneous trip" to Kazakhstan on the reality show "I Live Alone" was scripted in advance, saying the document in question was a production outline submitted to obtain a filming permit, not an actual broadcast script.

MBC said Friday that the material reported in the media was "a document submitted to obtain a filming permit from Incheon International Airport Authority as part of pre-production preparations," adding that it "was not a script that predetermined the actual broadcast content."

MBC said the outline was prepared to attach to an official letter requesting filming cooperation from the airport and was never shared with the cast. "Jeon Hyun-moo was also unaware of its contents, and there were no advance directing instructions," it said.

Earlier Friday, the Chosun Ilbo published documents that the office of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Eun-hye, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, had obtained from Incheon International Airport Authority. The documents included the production team's filming permit application, a consent form for filming at an airline check-in counter, and a scenario for the airport shoot — all filed by the production team with the airport authority on July 22.

The released scenario contained a stage direction describing Jeon arriving at Incheon Airport on impulse and standing at a departure counter to browse available flights, along with a line in which he says, "I've been to China too many times — maybe I'll try Kazakhstan." It also described him calling actors Gu Seong-hwan and Lee Ju-seung and deciding to travel to Kazakhstan.

The filming permit application specified that the crew planned to film Jeon purchasing a ticket at the Air Astana check-in counter and departing on Aug. 6, and listed an 11:10 a.m. departure flight. Jeon did in fact board that flight.

No alternative destinations other than Kazakhstan were identified in the documents submitted to the airport authority.

"I Live Alone" aired the episode on Aug. 14, showing Jeon arriving at Incheon Airport without a destination in mind, calling Gu, and then departing for Almaty, Kazakhstan. Suspicions of advance planning arose after the city of Almaty posted on its official website that it had supported the filming.

The production team initially denied receiving any sponsorship or filming support on Aug. 25, but as the allegations persisted, it acknowledged on Sept. 4 that staff airline tickets had been booked in advance and that local filming assistance had been arranged, and issued an apology.

The team said at the time that it had judged Kazakhstan to be the most likely choice based on destinations Jeon had previously expressed interest in and available flight options, and that it had planned to cancel the staff tickets if he chose a different destination.

The production team said it "did not sufficiently consider that emphasizing the 'spontaneous trip' framing could lead viewers to believe the entire travel and filming process had proceeded with no preparation whatsoever."


dbsdn1110@heraldcorp.com