Netflix responds to allegations of When Life Gives You Tangerines' extras being subjected to starvation and mistreatment , Entertainment News
PUBLISHED ON May 29, 2025 10:37 AM By Kristy Chua
The buzz for much-beloved K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines has returned, but not with fanfare this time round.
On May 26, crew who allegedly worked on the set made claims on X about the damage on rented props and cars. Extras who acted in the drama subsequently came forth with their own claims of abuse and mistreatment.
One prop-rental company claimed that the production team used lacquer to stencil a rented bus.
The X user said: "Since the production crew didn't have the ability to handle the retro buses or large vehicles that we rented or built for them, they ended up damaging them even though we stationed our staff on site for the sole purpose of operating the vehicles (though they were really just there to monitor the production crew). The reasons for damage were mostly due to 'ignorance' or 'irresponsibility'.
"There was an incident where someone got caught stenciling on a rented bus with hardware store lacquer spray — and the person who did it came out and said, 'Can't you just use lacquer thinner to remove it?' and was cursed at for it. He's an ignorant person who thinks that lacquer thinner is a magic potion that can just cleanly erase the lacquer spray."
아직도 기억난다. 빌린 버스에 철물점 락카스프레이로 스텐실 하다가 걸리니까 그 짓거리 한 놈이 '락카신나로 지워주면 될 거 아니냐'라고 적반하장으로 나왔다가 욕 바가지로 처먹었던 사건.
락카신나가 락카만 선택적으로 깔끔하게 지워주는 무안단물인 줄 아는 모자란 놈이 현장에서 깝치고 다님. https://t.co/1JkJMdsOQZ
Set in 1960s Jeju Island, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a slice-of-life story that follows the rebellious and feisty aspiring poet Ae-sun (IU) and good-natured Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) from their childhood to adulthood. A Netflix exclusive released in March, it quickly became a beloved hit due to its heartfelt story and themes.
After the first claims were shared on X, other allegations of abuse and mistreatment of extras were posted on the platform on May 27.
A user who claims to have been an extra on the set posted: "Even among extras, the drama's schedule was notorious for being disliked... The [production team] even forced us to get haircuts, but for a Netflix production, they didn't provide anything. They didn't want to spend money on extras, so they went with the most cost-effective approach. They neglected the elderly extras in the cold winter and starved them.
"They didn't even provide a tea table or food cart and just threw them into a random restaurant area and told them to eat within 30 minutes. It was winter and they told us costumes would be provided but ended up not allowing us to wear insulating inner wear — they said it would ruin the look of the costumes. But who would even notice extras in the background?"
폭삭은 엑스트라 사이에서도 유명한 기피 스케줄이었음..... 강제성으로 이발까지 시켰는데 뭘 넷플릭스 작품 치고는 뭐 하나 제공된 게 하나 없음 배우 아니면 출연자들한테 돈 쓰기도 싫어서 아득바득 가성비로 진행했던 제작팀 ㅋㅋ 추운 겨울에 어르신 출연자들까지 방치해두고 쫄쫄 굶기다가 https://t.co/Rfb99dkhNQ — 로일.97 (@bigpeach_jk) May 27, 2025
A report by The Korea Times also shared that in April 2023, a visitor to the Gochang Green Barley Field Festival had complained that the production team blocked access to areas of the venue and shouted at tourists not to take pictures.
Thereafter, the production company Pan Entertainment issued an apology where they acknowledged their failure in being considerate to the public.
In response to the allegations, Netflix gave a statement to Sports Seoul yesterday (May 28): "We are currently verifying the facts surrounding the situation. For any confirmed cases, we will conduct a thorough review to ensure such incidents do not happen again."
[[nid:718526]]
kristy.chua@asiaone.com
K-dramaDRAMAabuseactingNetflixStreaming - Music/Video/Content
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
2 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Gossip mill: Liu Wai Hung to open entertainment complex in Malaysia, officials indicted in late Lee Sun-kyun case, Hong Kong actor with cancer performs to pay bills
Liu Wai Hung to open entertainment complex in Malaysia Hong Kong former actor Liu Wai Hung plans to open an entertainment complex in Malaysia, uniting eateries, karaoke and more under one roof. The 67-year-old, who shot to fame for playing a mainland Chinese immigrant named Ah Chan in the 1979 TVB series The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, left showbiz in the '90s to pivot to running food and agriculture businesses. In a series of recent YouTube videos, Wai Hung announced his upcoming plans to open a food and entertainment complex in Kuala Lumpur spanning 15,000 sqft over four storeys. "There will be a Chinese restaurant on the first floor, with a total of five different VIP rooms, each equipped with karaoke," he shared. The second floor will feature a Western restaurant with a bar and a stage for live performances, while the third will consist of a private dining area with a "VVIP room" for 20 people. The fourth floor will consist of offices. [embed] Earlier this year, Wai Hung used his YouTube channel to share his health concerns, revealing that he had suffered a stroke that affected his left leg and had gout in his right. He added that he was undergoing acupuncture to treat his ailments. Officials indicted in late Lee Sun-kyun case A police officer and a prosecutor were indicted on Thursday (June 5) by the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office for revealing official secrets about the 2023 drug abuse investigation against late Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun. According to South Korean media, the police officer is a man in his 30s from the Incheon Metropolitan Police who is accused of taking photos of an investigation progress report which contained personal information about Sun-kyun and sending it to a reporter on Oct 18, 2023. The reporter, who shared the information, has also been charged with violating the South Korean Personal Information Protection Act. The prosecutor, who worked for the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, is accused of revealing that Sun-kyun was being investigated for drug charges to another journalist, which resulted in the case being made public on Oct 19. The Parasite actor had undergone three rounds of police interrogations from October 2023 until his suicide that December aged 48. South Korean media was heavily criticised for their sensationalist reporting on Sun-kyun, and celebrities including Parasite director Bong Joon-ho called for an investigation into potential security lapses in the handling of the case. Hong Kong actor with cancer performs to pay bills [embed] Hong Kong actor Peter Pang recently performed at a nightclub in China to raise funds for his medical and daily expenses, despite having been diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer in 2023. In a video posted by the 54-year-old to Xiaohongshu on May 24, fans can be seen holding signs and light sticks outside the venue. Peter also performs Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies by the Hong Kong rock band Beyond to his eager audience. "I am grateful that I can still use this body to perform for everyone and will keep working hard," he captioned the post. Peter recently revealed in an interview with ST Headline that he was struggling financially, having to take a year off work during his recovery. He went through his savings and had to borrow a six-figure sum from friends and relatives to pay medical bills and daily expenses. "It's hard to support (the family) from my wife's salary alone, and the money I borrowed is almost gone," the father-of-three said. "Even if people understand my situation and no one urges me to pay back the money, I don't want to be in debt for so long." SINGAPORE HELPLINES Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444 Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928 Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 Community Health Assessment Team: 6493-6500/1 Counselling TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 TOUCH Care Line (for seniors, caregivers): 6804-6555 Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800 Online resources [[nid:718761]] drimac@
New Paper
2 hours ago
- New Paper
S'porean actor Sunny Pang on filming Netflix's Havoc: 'They rehearse until everything is on point'
You might expect Hollywood heavyweights like Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker to breeze through their scenes with effortless charisma and minimal prep. But that wasn't what Singaporean actor Sunny Pang observed on the set of Havoc, a recently released Netflix film. "They rehearse and rehearse until everything you see is on point," Pang, 53, said in a recent interview with The New Paper, describing the actors' meticulous approach to their craft. Pang, who has been in the industry for 23 years, had a front-row seat to observe the work ethic of industry giants like Hardy and Whitaker after landing a role in Havoc, an action thriller directed by Gareth Evans. Pang plays the character Ching, a loyal sidekick of the movie's main antagonist, Mother, portrayed by Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann. What struck him most was not their star power, but their humility and discipline. "It was very humbling when you see a person like that, with such high status - obviously highly paid - but without an ego at all," he said. "He [Whitaker] even sat down with us to talk about things, like, 'How are you? Where are you from?' You know, [he was] curious about things, curious about you." Their professionalism challenged any assumptions he might have had about celebrity behaviour. Pang recounted how the cast hung out on several occasions, sharing conversations and laughter. Whitaker even treated the team to drinks, he added, and it was such gestures that helped foster a strong sense of camaraderie among the team. On one occasion, the cast went out to watch Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings together, and Pang recounted the fond memory with a smile. "It was like a family," he said. "You step into a set that you don't know what to think, because you've been on an Asian set, never a Hollywood set. I was like, 'Okay, try not to panic'. And I see my friends (Yeo being one of them), and we start [saying] jokes and everything, and we know that we'll have a good time." For Pang, the journey to Hollywood has been anything but typical. He began his career as an actor in local productions such as Mediacorp's Code of Law. He was also a stunt choreographer for local short films before earning international recognition for his performances in Indonesian action films Headshot (2016) and The Night Comes for Us (2018). Those roles caught the attention of Evans, who later created Ching in Havoc specifically with Pang in mind. Sunny Pang in an interview with The New Paper. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER Even on a global stage, Pang remains grounded. He vividly remembered his first encounter with Whitaker, a long-time idol of his, describing it with awe. Recounting how professional and down-to-earth Whitaker was, Pang said: "Usually those Hollywood actors will not stay there for your reaction. That means the camera is on me, and I'm supposed to see everyone while giving lines to Yann Yann. But he stayed there. When asked if he wanted to retire and sit, he said, 'No, no, Sunny needs my eyeline.'" He also recalled receiving praise from Whitaker himself: "When I walked past him when I was done, I went to shake his hand and thank him. He said, 'What you did was cool, man. Keep it up!' I immediately texted my wife, 'Wah! Forest Whitaker said my acting is cool!' "I mean, it's such a rewarding time to see an Oscar-winning person give you that praise first, and to see him work. And you learn a lot of things," he added, describing the whole experience as a "masterclass" for him. Although the film is set in a fictional American city, it was shot primarily in Wales. After spending four months there immersed in filming and the local culture, Pang said the experience left a lasting impression - one he hopes to carry into Singapore's creative scene. "If you open your eyes a little bit more, you'll see a different side of what we can do. When I learn something from my time overseas, I come back, I don't keep it to myself. I want Singapore to evolve as well." He emphasised the need to encourage local talent to think differently and take creative risks. "What we lack is encouragement," he said. "Never doubt yourself, and always find ways to create opportunities." Looking ahead, Pang is turning his attention toward action directing. "Up to a certain point, you just have to let go (of acting)," he said. "You have to let the new generation evolve, using what you have experienced to let them evolve into something greater than what it is right now."
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Countdown to BTS comeback: Inside BigHit Music's high-stakes plan for group's full reunion
Jin (left) will be embarking on a global tour, performing in nine cities, while J-hope will be concluding his global tour on June 14. PHOTOS: SEOUL - 'You waited for me, now what do you want? Say it all,' replied BTS member V when a fan asked, 'Only nine days left before discharge — are you ready, Taehyung?' during a Weverse chat on June 1. Excitement is mounting among BTS fans, or Army, worldwide as all seven members of the K-pop boy band will have completed their military service by the end of June, marking the end of a nearly two-year hiatus and paving the way for a highly anticipated full-group comeback. RM, 30, and V (whose real name is Taehyung), 29, will be discharged on June 10, followed by Jimin, 29, and Jungkook, 27, on June 11. Suga, 32, who is currently a social service worker as an alternative form of duty, is scheduled for release on June 21. This marks the conclusion of BTS' military enlistment period, which began in December 2022 with Jin, 32. Jin and J-Hope, 31, who completed their service in 2024, have already resumed solo activities. As the final discharge dates approach, speculation is swirling about when BTS will resume group activities. Industry insiders anticipate a full-group comeback as early as the end of 2025 or in the first half of 2026. Jin, J-Hope take lead with global solo concerts In the meantime, solo efforts by members have kept the group's presence strong, both musically and in fan engagement. Jin, the first to return, has announced his first solo fan concerts, #Runseokjin_EP.Tour, taking place on June 28 and 29 at Goyang Sports Complex just outside Seoul. The concert is a spinoff of his solo variety series Run Seokjin and symbolises his direct outreach to global fans. Seokjin is Jin's Korean name. Following the Seoul concert, Jin will embark on a global tour, performing 18 shows across nine cities: Chiba and Osaka in Japan; Anaheim, Dallas, Tampa and Newark in the US; London in the UK; and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Jin's first solo concert will be held on June 28 at Goyang Sports Complex. PHOTO: Meanwhile, J-Hope will conclude his global tour at the same venue it started with an encore concert, J-Hope Tour Hope on the Stage Final, on June 13 and 14. 'We're preparing thoroughly so that J-Hope's signature explosive energy and immersive performance can be felt to the fullest,' BTS' record label BigHit Music said. During the concert, J-Hope will debut a new digital single, Killin' It Girl (feat. GloRilla), which caps off his solo single project. The hip-hop track and its music video will be released on June 13. J-Hope will be releasing a new digital single on June 13. PHOTO: J-Hope began his world tour on Feb 28 at KSPO Dome in Seoul and went on to perform 31 shows in 15 cities including New York, Chicago, Mexico City, Manila, Saitama, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Macao, Taipei and Osaka - drawing some 470,000 fans. 'Fans, myself included, are eagerly waiting to see what new synergies emerge among the members. Of course, we're also excited to see them perform their old favourites,' said Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University in the US who also lectures on K-pop. 'Given how both J-Hope and Jin have showcased more mature versions of themselves, it's likely that BTS' new music will reflect that evolution. The members' individual identities will likely stand out even more in the group's next chapter,' she added. BTS Festa returns bigger with fan-centered experiences In addition, the 2025 BTS Festa - an annual celebration of BTS' debut in 2013 - on June 13 will take place at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on June 13 to14, shortly after all members, except Suga, are discharged. Fans are buzzing over the possibility of surprise appearances or special events involving the full group. This year's Festa, which opened on June 1, features an expanded set-up with more than 20 exhibition booths across two halls. Highlights include a giant Army Bomb (the official BTS light stick) light show and photo zone; Voice Zone featuring members' voice messages; Trophy Zone displaying the group's achievements; and BTS Locker, which exhibits members' personal items. For fans unable to attend in person, BTS will also roll out diverse online content between June 2 and 13, including Hoseokjin Photos, Anchor Showdown, Hoseokjin's 12:00 and 20130613 Congratulations, offering global fans a chance to participate in the festivities. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
