A disturbing incident during a variety show shoot has raised serious concerns regarding workplace safety and professional conduct in the South Korean entertainment industry.
On June 30, during the filming of an art-themed variety program in Busan, a senior staff member reportedly yelled at the main writer. When another writer attempted to intervene, the aggressor allegedly choked the intervener, a situation witnessed by both crew members and general cast members. Following this assault, affected writers demanded action against the perpetrator, leading to a halt of production.
Despite the writers’ requests for accountability, the production company terminated the contracts of all six writers involved on July 9 and has since failed to pay them approximately 25 million won in overdue wages. The Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center and the Broadcast Writers Union emphasized that the production oversight is now divided between two companies, each denying responsibility for the unpaid wages. Victims have reported feeling unsupported and further victimized by the company’s actions.
The Broadcast Writers Union and the Hanbit Center announced their commitment to advocating for the rights of unpaid writers in the entertainment sector and will pursue reforms to improve unsafe labor conditions commonly found on set. They aim to conduct thorough research and demand increased oversight from labor authorities to address these ongoing issues in the variety show landscape. This incident highlights the urgent need for systemic changes in the industry.