Animal Abuse Controversy Surrounding 'Taejong Yi Bangwon'... Petition for "Strong Punishment" Surpasses 200,000 Signatures

The falling horse scene in episode 7 of KBS historical drama 'Taejong Yi Bang-won'.
[Photo by KBS, 'Taejong Yi Bang-won' capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A petition demanding strong punishment and measures regarding animal abuse controversies surrounding KBS's historical drama "Taejong Yi Bang-won" has gained the support of over 200,000 people, meeting the criteria for a response from the Blue House.

Earlier, "Taejong Yi Bang-won" became embroiled in an animal abuse controversy after it was revealed that during the filming of a horse-riding fall scene in episode 7, aired on the 1st of last month, a wire was tied to the leg of a horse carrying an actor to forcibly knock it down. The controversy intensified after KBS stated in an official position that the horse died a week after filming.

In relation to this, on the 21st of last month, a petition titled "Measures are needed for animals whose safety and survival are threatened during broadcast filming" was posted on the Blue House National Petition website.

The petitioner stated, "A scene showing horse abuse was broadcast in the KBS drama 'Taejong Yi Bang-won,' causing controversy," and added, "According to a video released by Animal Freedom Union, during a scene where an action actor falls off a horse, a wire tied to the horse's ankle is pulled to forcibly knock the horse down."

They continued, "The horse, pulled down by the wire around its ankle, suffered such a severe shock that its neck appeared to be twisted as it collapsed to the ground, and the actor who fell along with the horse was also filmed in a dangerously risky manner that raised concerns about injury."

According to the petitioner, immediately after filming the scene, the staff hurried to check on the actor who had fallen from the horse. However, no one checked the condition of the horse.

On January 21, animal protection organizations including the Korea Animal Protection Alliance held a press conference condemning animal abuse in the drama "Taejong Yi Bang-won" in front of the KBS headquarters in Yeouido. A participant is dressed as a horse and reenacting the accident scene. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The petitioner said, "The horse, which fell with such a strong impact that its neck was twisted, tried several times to get up by kicking its hind legs but ultimately could not stand up," and added, "The horse collapsed there and was left alone without moving, which was the last moment captured in the video."

They raised their voice demanding appropriate punishment for the animal abuse committed by the "Taejong Yi Bang-won" production team. The petitioner stated, "Article 8, Paragraph 2, Item 1 of the current Animal Protection Act prohibits acts of causing injury to animals using tools, defining such acts as animal abuse," and added, "Furthermore, abusing animals for drama filming falls under acts causing injury to animals for entertainment or amusement purposes as per Article 8, Paragraph 2, Item 3 of the same law."

They also said, "The practice of using animals like 'props' for broadcasting has long been criticized," and "Many citizens are outraged that KBS, a public broadcaster operated with the public's license fees, has yet to establish any measures to ensure animal safety."

They urged, "Public broadcaster KBS must create and strictly adhere to safety measures and guidelines for animals during video filming."

Additionally, the petitioner demanded the legalization of animal welfare standards for video production that producers and others must comply with, the establishment of a system allowing animal welfare experts to be present on filming sites, and the mandatory use of computer graphics or dummies for high-risk animal filming based on a risk grading system.

As of 7 p.m. on the 20th, this petition has gained the support of over 200,600 people, meeting the criteria for a response from the Blue House.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.