Upcoming tvN Drama Called Out For Poor Working Conditions Of Staff Members

Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center (hereafter Hanbit Center) has called out tvN’s upcoming drama “Arthdal Chronicles” for failing to provide adequate working conditions for its staff members.

On April 8, Hanbit Center and the broadcasting staff union department of Hope Solidarity Labor Union announced their plans to host a press conference on April 10. At the press conference, they will be requesting the Seoul Employment and Labor Administration to place someone to monitor the working conditions of staff members on the set of tvN’s upcoming drama “Arthdal Chronicles”

They also announced their plans to carry out a one-man protest in front of CJ ENM center in the Mapo district in Seoul on the same day as the press conference.

A source from the broadcasting staff union department of Hope Solidarity Labor Union stated, “Many staff members of ‘Arthdal Chronicles’ have suffered from long hours of labor. We filed initial complaints, but [the conditions] have not improved. In the case of filming abroad, [the staff members] would work over 20 hours a day.”

The source continued, “Due to this, a staff member in charge of lights even suffered a fracture. This resulted not from an individual’s inability to pay attention but from long hours of labor.”

Hanbit Center was created in honor of the late producing director (PD) Lee Han Bit, the assistant PD of tvN’s drama “Drinking Alone” who died by suicide in 2016 after reporting on poor working conditions of broadcasting networks. Since then, Hanbit Center has been working to improve the working conditions of staff members in the industry.

“Arthdal Chronicles” is a fantasy drama that takes place in the mythical city of Arthdal. The drama will address the love, conflict, and harmony between the residents of Asadal as the city grows and gives birth to a hero. Song Joong Ki, Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ji Won, Kim Ok Bin, and more are confirmed for the drama.

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