Kim Seon-ho Drama Faces Backlash Over Jeju Trash Controversy

Jeju Island faces backlash after a filming crew left trash in the forest.
Kim Seon-ho’s cup holder among the waste sparked outrage online.
Public anger pushes Showbox to apologize and promise stricter measures.

Jeju Island has once again come under the spotlight due to the actions of a drama production crew. This time, actor Kim Seon-ho’s face was not shining on the screen, but instead on a pile of trash in the forest. A video uploaded by a netizen on August 27 triggered a wave of criticism. Pieces of cup holders bearing Kim Seon-ho’s image—originally from a coffee truck sent by fans—were found among piles of bottles, plastic bags, and even butane gas canisters. This incident reopened old wounds: a production culture that often clashes with ethics and harms nature.

The Beginning of the Controversy

On August 27, 2025, a social media user uploaded a video showing the condition of the filming site for the drama Delusion in the forests of Jeju Island. Piles of trash, from bottles, plastic bags, used drink cups, to butane gas canisters, filled the area. The user pointed out the Kim Seon-ho cup holder, which was originally a token of fan support. In the caption, they wrote with disappointment: “Do fans even know? After filming, this kind of trash was just thrown into the forest. I have no words.” The post ended with a stern warning: “Drama filming trash in Jeju. Don’t do this.”

The upload quickly went viral. Netizens highlighted the danger of carelessly discarded butane gas canisters. For Jeju residents who had only recently endured the largest forest fire in decades, the presence of such items in the forest clearly triggered trauma. Delusion was not the first case; back in January, the drama The Moon that Rises at Noon was heavily criticized after the crew hammered equipment into wooden pillars at the Byeongsan Seowon Cultural Heritage Site. Once again, the Korean film industry’s reputation as a “bad guest” to nature was called into question.

Public Reaction and Social Impact

A wave of outrage flooded social media. Netizens left sharp comments: “Butane in the forest? Just a few months ago there was a massive wildfire, and they learned nothing.” Another comment compared the case to cultural site damage: “First they hammered equipment into a heritage site, now they’re dumping trash.” Others pointed out basic ethics: “Cleaning up the filming site is the bare minimum.” The presence of Kim Seon-ho’s face on the cup holder further fueled the anger—fans who only meant to support him instead felt their favorite actor’s image had been tainted by the crew’s actions.

The anger wasn’t just about the trash. The phenomenon of “coffee trucks”—fans sending beverages as support—came under scrutiny. What was once seen as a sweet gesture is now considered potentially damaging to an artist’s image if not managed responsibly. Some netizens urged the industry to set strict hygiene and waste management standards to prevent such incidents from happening again.

In the comment section of the post on Instagram account @6seek, the uploader wrote:

“Many people are curious. It seems that the drama filming took place on Sunday the 24th, and the time I filmed the video was Wednesday the 27th. After 4 p.m. on Wednesday, someone had cleaned up the trash, but when I checked the next morning, some of the trash was still around. Even if it was dark, they should have paid more attention… While many people work hard to create in difficult environments, it seems that a few thoughtless actions have caused everyone to be criticized together, which is unfortunate. Although the names of the actors are unfortunately dragged into this as the faces on the items, I hope this incident leads to real reflection and regret from the production team.”

Followed by other netizens responding to the trash left behind:

“Is that… butane gas…?”

“Wow—unbelievable! What drama is this, hyung?”

“This post already appeared on Yonhap News TV! 👍🏻”

“I saw them filming until dawn, but they just left it there for a long time.. 😢”

“Which drama is this? The production team is really too much.”

“Seriously.. and yet there are still filming teams like this…ㅠㅠ”

“Report this immediately 🚨🚨🚨”

“The news is slowly spreading. This is just way too much.”

“Who is it?”

“Report this to the news, seriously! 🔥🔥”

“This should be reported 😡”

“It says in the article that the production team issued an official apology and cleaned up. I really hope this won’t happen again ㅠㅠ”

“As a fan… this is really disappointing ㅠㅠ The production team must reflect, seriously ㅠㅠ”

“Wow this is something that should be taught as a lesson!”

“A few years ago I also saw a filming team in Oreum. I wasn’t sure if it was a drama or a movie, but there were several filming trucks. They just left the trash bags and went… Later when I came back, crows had torn them open and the garbage was scattered everywhere. I reported it then too ㅠㅠ”

“Hyunhok filming, huh.”

“And yet people still wish for this drama to be a big hit…”

Showbox’s Response and Hopes for the Future

A day after the video went viral, Showbox—the production company behind Delusion—issued an official apology. They explained that filming had ended late at night and in darkness, making it difficult for the crew to clean up thoroughly.

“As soon as we were made aware of the situation, we apologized to the site and immediately cleaned up all the trash,” they said. Showbox promised to be more careful and to ensure that filming procedures would be handled more responsibly in the future.

In a separate interview, Showbox added that they had asked for understanding from the site owners and relevant authorities, and were willing to take responsibility. They admitted that finishing late at night was no excuse for leaving trash behind.

“We recognized the situation and immediately cleaned up. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused,” they stated. This response reflected an awareness of the importance of protecting both reputation and the environment.

As for the drama itself, Delusion—also known as Hyun-Hak or Misunderstanding—is set in Gyeongseong in 1935. The story revolves around Yoon Yi-ho, a painter (played by Kim Seon-ho) tasked with painting the portrait of the mysterious Song Jeong-hwa (Suzy). As he delves into her secrets, he becomes entangled in colonial-era intrigue. The series is directed by Han Jae-rim, known for The Face Reader and The King. With a massive budget and slated for release on Disney+ in 2026, the drama had already drawn public attention even before the controversy.

The Jeju incident serves as a reminder to the entertainment industry of the importance of ecological responsibility. Filming locations are not just backdrops—they are part of the environment that must be respected. Production companies are now urged to create clear waste management procedures, provide staff training, and ensure that no more “bad memories” are left behind in nature. For fans, creative support like coffee trucks can still be a form of appreciation, but it must be paired with environmental awareness so as not to burden nature further.

The trash controversy in Jeju Island exposes the darker side of Korea’s entertainment industry: behind the production scenes, there are real impacts on both nature and reputation. The viral video of Kim Seon-ho’s cup holder in the midst of trash sparked public outrage and underscored that professionalism is not only about what appears on screen, but also about how the crew leaves the filming site. Showbox’s apology offers hope that internal evaluation will take place, but the public demands concrete action. Hopefully, this case will serve as a turning point for a more responsible filming culture—one that safeguards both Jeju’s natural beauty and the reputations of the artists involved.

Sources: Ten Asia, Sport Today, Allkpop, Daum