Even before its premiere, the fantasy romance drama The First Night with the Duke drew criticism for damaging a UNESCO World Heritage site during production, but the cast and crew are hoping the show itself will win audiences over.
The drama, based on a popular web novel, follows the wild romance of an ordinary college student who wakes up inside the world of a romance novel—only to find herself in bed with the book’s dangerously obsessive male lead. On June 11th, the cast and creators gathered for a press conference to officially introduce the series.
However, previously, controversy erupted over a shoot at Byeongsan Seowon, a UNESCO-listed heritage site, where nails were reportedly driven into wooden pillars—raising concerns over cultural preservation.
Director Lee Woong Hee addressed the issue head-on, saying, “We sincerely apologize for the damage that occurred during filming at Byeongsan Seowon. There’s no excuse—it was entirely our fault.”
He added, “After the incident, we discarded all footage filmed at the location and KBS has revised its production guidelines regarding cultural heritage sites. Investigations are still ongoing by Korea Heritage Service and police, and we’ve taken all possible corrective measures.” He noted that experts have advised ongoing monitoring due to the nature of the wood, and promised, “We’ll follow professional advice on restoration going forward.”
“Drama should be something that brings joy and escape from daily life,” the director continued. “I’m truly sorry we caused concern with our production.”
Lead actor Ok Taecyeon echoed the sentiment: “As actors, we’ve become much more aware. What’s most important is that nothing like this ever happens again.” Co-star Seohyun added, “As a lead, I feel deeply responsible. There’s no excuse. I believe we need to be extra cautious not just here, but on any set.”
>> Seohyun and Ok Taecyeon Talk Bringing ‘The First Night With the Duke’ to Life
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