Recently, the National Heritage Administration introduced the 'Standard Guidelines for Filming Permits on Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage Sites,' which will regulate the use of cultural heritage sites as backdrops in films and dramas.
This move came after an unfortunate incident during the shooting of the drama 'The First Night With the Duke' by KBS-2TV last year. The filming crew caused damage to the Mandaeru Pavilion at Byeongsan Seowon in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province by attaching props to its pillars, creating additional stress on the structure.
Byeongsan Seowon holds significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a nationally designated cultural heritage site. The act of attaching props to the pillars was deemed a violation of the Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization Act.
The National Heritage Administration clarified that the guidelines were formulated to outline essential protocols for obtaining filming permits at cultural heritage sites and to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Under these guidelines, filming teams must adhere to a set of rules when working at nationally designated cultural heritage sites. They are required to submit permit applications, activity plans, and commitments to the local government 15 days before commencing filming.
To prevent damage, it is strongly advised to have dedicated safety personnel present during filming. This is mandatory for commercial shoots involving more than ten crew members. Qualified safety personnel should have expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, history, archaeology, or be associated with local governments as cultural heritage interpreters.
Additional guidelines prohibit the installation of separate structures, restrict open flames, ensure minimal disruptions to visitors, and outline methods to safeguard plants within cultural heritage sites.
In response to the nail incident at Byeongsan Seowon, KBS issued an apology, expressing regret for the disruption caused and promising full cooperation with the authorities' investigation.