Intense scrutiny of a Korean reality show whose contestants hunted and ate protected giant clams in southern Thailand prompted its broadcaster yesterday to end streaming of all episodes and remove the show’s producer.
South Korean SBS Broadcasting Center apologized to viewers for “not having sufficient knowledge of the local regulations” – a generous assessment of the showmakers’ actions – and announced disciplinary actions against those responsible for the episode.
“The decision was made to issue a warning, probation, and salary reduction to the entertainment department head, CP (chief producer), and producer, respectively, and the producer has been removed from the ‘Law of the Jungle’ production team,” read the statement translated from Korean.
Korean TV crew snuck out to plunder Thai clams: officials
It added that an apology would be broadcast in Saturday’s episode of the show.
The show’s production company had previously apologized for the stunt, saying they were unaware of Thai law. However, that apology was undercut soon after when Thailand’s Film Board alleged that the show’s crew secretly sneaked into national park to shoot the episode without permission.
The park has since filed a lawsuit against the South Korean broadcaster while its Thai fixer has faced consequences. Both production companies as well as the South Korean actress who uprooted the clams, Yeol-eum Lee, now faces criminal charges.
Their actions violated both the National Park Act, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of THB20,000 (US$650), as well as a wildlife protection law that is punishable by up to a THB40,000 (US$1,305) fine and four years in jail.
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