[A screen grab from MBC's 'I Live Alone']
[A screen grab from MBC's 'I Live Alone']

MBC's entertainment program "I Live Alone" has come under fire once again.

Earlier, the show faced allegations of manipulation over broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo's "impromptu trip to Kazakhstan" segment. Now, a scene featuring actor Gu Seong-hwan attempting a bungee jump has sparked a new controversy over workplace safety.

The Friday episode of "I Live Alone" showed Gu attempting a bungee jump with an acquaintance.

But it was the behavior of a staff member assisting with the jump that shocked viewers.

The worker, stationed on a bungee platform dozens of meters above the ground, was seen managing the bungee cord without wearing a helmet or a safety harness. The worker was filmed standing on the cord and performing tasks at the edge of the railing — all without any fall-prevention equipment.

One internet user wrote on social media that while watching the show, they found themselves wondering whether what they were seeing was acceptable. "The worker on top of the bungee platform is standing on the bungee cord and releasing it without wearing safety shoes, a helmet, or even a harness for working at height," the user said.

"If the cord were to suddenly wrap around their foot or they slipped, it would be truly terrifying," the user added, criticizing the incident as an unintentional but telling sign of how serious safety negligence is in the country's workplaces.

Other viewers echoed the concern, with comments including "that looked dangerous," "an accident could happen at any moment," "what if a participant grabs the worker's hand out of fear?," "safety negligence in this country is far worse than I thought," and "the staff need safety equipment too."

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and related regulations, workers must wear a helmet and safety harness when working at heights of 2 meters or more where there is a risk of falling. Violations can result in a prison term of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won ($37,200) for employers, while workers themselves may face an administrative penalty of up to 300,000 won.


jshan@heraldcorp.com