Kim Seon Ho and Suzy historical drama, Delusion, has landed in hot water in Jeju. On September 17, the Aewol-eup Office confirmed the production will be fined 1 million KRW (about $730) after staff were caught leaving behind waste on one of the island’s oreum hills.
The debris wasn’t just ordinary litter. Photos shared on social media showed piles of plastic bottles, cup holders featuring Kim Seon Ho’s face, plastic wrappers, and even butane gas canisters. Locals quickly voiced anger online, saying the popular drama had disrespected Jeju’s natural landscape.
What officials decided
After a review of the complaint, the Aewol-eup Office said the act violated Article 8 of the Waste Management Act. “The waste is considered to have arisen during business activities,” the office explained. “We are currently carrying out procedures to impose fines in accordance with relevant laws.”
Interestingly, no penalty was imposed for the butane canisters. Jeju City explained that while such items fall under fire risk rules, the prohibition order only applies during fire prevention periods. Without clear proof the canisters were used to start fires, fines couldn’t stick.
Future checks on filming crews
Authorities stressed that stricter oversight will follow. “In future filming cooperation within national forests under the jurisdiction of the Korea Forest Service, we will strengthen cooperation conditions and thoroughly check whether the area is restored after filming concludes,” Jeju City said. Actors will reportedly be cautioned, and tighter waste monitoring will be put in place.
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Production company apologizes
Showbox, the production company behind Delusion, issued a quick apology. “Filming ended late, and due to darkness, we were unable to clean the site thoroughly. We have apologized to local authorities and immediately removed the waste,” the company said in a statement.
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About the drama
Delusion is based on a hit webtoon and tells the story of a poor painter entangled in the secrets of a mysterious woman. The series stars Kim Seon Ho alongside Suzy and is set to premiere next year on Disney+.
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