According to Sports Kyunghyang, the Gangwon branch of the Jungbu Regional Employment and Labor Administration assigned a labor inspector to the case after an industrial-safety complaint was filed on October 19.
The investigation is examining whether the operator fulfilled its safety obligations under South Korea’s Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The controversy began after the October 16 broadcast of I Live Alone, in which actor Koo Sung-hwan attempted a bungee jump with an acquaintance.
Koo was connected to bungee-jumping safety equipment, but some viewers questioned whether the worker assisting him on the elevated platform had adequate fall-prevention protection. Separate fall-prevention equipment was not clearly visible on the worker in the broadcast footage.
A complaint was subsequently submitted through South Korea’s e-People petition system asking authorities to examine whether appropriate protective measures were in place, including a safety helmet, safety harness and proper anchoring equipment, as well as guardrails or fall-prevention nets around the platform.
The complaint also asked authorities to determine the worker’s employment relationship with the facility operator, which could affect how workplace-safety regulations apply.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are required to take preventive measures when workers perform duties in areas where there is a risk of falling.
The Labor Ministry has now assigned an inspector to determine whether the operator violated those obligations. If a violation of the relevant safety requirements is ultimately confirmed, the business owner could face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.
Netizen Reactions
The sampled reactions were divided between viewers who thought the worker’s safety setup looked concerning and others who argued that any potential violation would be the operator’s responsibility rather than I Live Alone. Some also criticized the level of scrutiny being applied to variety programs.
1. I thought the exact same thing while watching... That safety worker didn’t seem to have anything on their body at all?? They were just standing there...
2. It’s not really I Live Alone’s fault ㅋㅋ
3. I thought the same thing while watching. The guy didn’t seem to have any protective gear on, had his hands in his pockets, and was doing everything half-heartedly like he couldn’t be bothered.
4. I just think people these days need something to pour their emotions into. Since they don’t have anyone to love in real life, they obsess over things like Bukangi, and since it’s hard to get angry at people in real life, they take it out on celebrities online. It’s honestly a sad era.
5. Still, it did look dangerous... Especially when there’s so much attention on workplace safety these days because of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
6. That’s not I Live Alone’s fault; that’s the business’s fault. Even at construction sites these days, they strictly enforce things like safety gear and hard hats.
7. At this point, doesn’t it seem like someone has a grudge against I Live Alone? This feels like media play.
8. Because the production crew was careless enough to show it, a business violating safety rules ends up getting exposed. In a way, that’s one positive function of broadcasting ㅋㅋㅋ
9. Even on construction sites, people work with safety harnesses hooked up at just 2 to 3 meters high. Businesses like that suffering from safety negligence should be shut down.
10. There are so many nitpickers who refuse to watch a variety show as a variety show and insist on treating it like a documentary. They’re just sitting at home watching for anything they can pick apart ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
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