Are Safety Procedures on K-Drama Sets Adequate?

When accidents are mentioned, those involving motor vehicles usually come to mind. However, occupational hazards are also a major cause of injuries and deaths.

Statistics provided by the International Labor Organization (ILO) show that there are about 340 million on-the-job mishaps globally. Approximately 2.3 million men and women die from those work-related issues or diseases annually. 

One Ottawa personal injury lawyer mentions how accidents in the workplace are extremely common. 

It's no different on the sets of Korean dramas, which are so popular that Forbes featured a list of the best ones to watch in 2020. Over the years, there have been many reports of on-set incidents involving stars of the popular television series. 

Do those occurrences mean that safety is an issue in the studios? Let's review the mishaps that happened to the actors and actresses.

Famous Korean Celebrity Casualties

During the filming of an action scene on "You're Surrounded", actor Lee Seung-gi's left eye was accidentally poked. It caused corneal damage and bleeding. The injury was so serious that the Seoul Broadcasting System suspended the airing of the series indefinitely.

Another celeb, Choi Jin Hyuk was hurt during the filming of an action scene for his upcoming drama, "The Last Empress." In the accident, he was cut above his eye and received 30 stitches. Aside from that, he was alright.

In another on-set mishap, singer-actor Seo In Guk was injured during the production of the KBS2 TV series, "The King's Face." He was shooting scenes involving the use of wires, and he bruised his nose.

It was his second accident on the set of the show. He had previously damaged his eye and bone when a stuntman hit it. His vision wasn't affected, but filming was delayed to allow him to recover. 

Eye injuries seem to be a common occurrence. While making the drama, "Goddess of Fire, Jung-Yi," actress Moon Geun Young almost lost her sight when a piece of equipment fell on her. She was fortunate that it didn't cause her to lose her vision for good.

Non-celebrity Casualties

Actors aren't the only ones who sustained injuries. Other victims include the production staff.

One fatality was Yeom Hye Sun, screenwriter for JTBC's drama "Maids." She tragically died in a fire that demolished the set. It was reported that she was stranded on the second floor of the studio and could not escape with the other employees.

In 2018, a member of the production staff of "Hwayugi" injured himself. He was paralyzed due to the mishap. 

The incident led to an investigation and safety inspections. Filming and broadcasting were suspended during that period.

While shooting "The Technicians," four people were on a glass stage in a club in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, when it broke. It was reported that one of them was the main actor while the other three were extras. They were all hurt in the tragic incident.

The production company, Trinity Entertainment, was later accused of not sending the injured to the hospital. They've denied the allegations.

Are K-Drama Sets Safe?

While there have been injuries sustained on the sets of Korean TV series, it's not a clear indication that the studios and locations aren't safe. 

Many of the incidences weren't the result of improper safety measures. When actors are engaged in physical contact, accidents are very difficult to prevent. Humans err, and especially in action scenes, the slightest mistake can lead to a mishap.

As to the question of whether K-drama productions have adequate prevention systems in place, it's as safe as it can be under normal circumstances.