An upcoming KBS2 drama starring Girl’s Generation’s Seohyun and 2PM’s Ok Taecyeon is facing controversy even before airing.

Filming for The First Night With the Duke was recently halted due to a complaint filed at Andong City Hall. The report indicates that the drama crew was seen drilling nails into the exterior of Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, a UNESCO Heritage Site. 

A representative from the National Heritage Administration told HeraldPOP that while necessary permits were issued for the show, the production team violated its conditions. 

“The permit explicitly prohibits damage to cultural heritage. This is a clear violation, and Andong City is reviewing measures to address it. We may need to obtain a detailed statement about the incident. Given the damage, legal action, including filing charges, is possible,” the official said.

On 2 January, KBS released an official statement, saying that it acknowledges the gravity of the situation and deeply regrets what occurred on-site.

“We are currently investigating the incident and discussing the best restoration methods. The drama team is collaborating with Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy representatives to inspect the damage and proceed with restoration efforts. Furthermore, we will actively work on measures to prevent similar incidents and address any further potential impacts. We deeply apologize to everyone once again for this unfortunate incident related to the drama filming,” it added. 

The series, written by Jeon Seon Young, directed by Lee Woong Hee and co-produced by Studio N and Monster Union, is based on the original Naver series web novel by Hwang Do Tol. It follows the story of an ordinary college student whose soul takes possession of a minor character in a romance novel.

The First Night With the Duke is scheduled to be released this year.