Amid the animal abuse issue, KBS reportedly postponed filming "The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won," starring Jo Sang Wook, Park Jin Hee, Kim Yeong Cheol, and more. It came after the historical Kdrama faced a wave of backlash as viewers and organizations pointed out the animal cruelty on the set of the series.
Apparently, a horse that appeared in episode 7 died a week after being injured while shooting a particular scene. It was when Kim Yeong Cheol's stunt actor had to portray a sequence where he was being overthrown from his horse while riding.
To make this scene, the production crew tied the horse's leg to the ground, but the animal endured a fatal fall and landed on head dive.
The unfortunate incident caused a stir on social media.
KBS Suspends Filming of 'The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won'
With the public's ire, KBS immediately addressed the controversy and issued an apology following the animal cruelty accusations. The broadcast network explained that the production crew is also prioritizing the actor's safety and the welfare of animals.
As for the accident, KBS cited that they are responsible for the matter and expressed their apology towards the viewers.
"We cannot help but take serious responsibility for this unfortunate incident that has occurred. We apologize to the viewers for not preventing this accident and causing such an unfortunate event," the statement reads.
Following this, YTN Star also reported that KBS stopped the production of "The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won" due to continuous criticism.
A representative explained to the media outlet that the historical Kdrama suspended its production and the cast members had not filmed for more than a week.
With this, they need to wait for the production company and the network's signal to resume the shoot.
KBS Cancels Two Episodes of 'The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won'
READ MORE: Industry Personalities Demand to Cancel 'The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won' Despite Apology from KBS Regarding Animal Abuse Controversy
Prior to this, KBS also announced that the series would not air its two episodes scheduled on January 22 and 23.
"Due to the ongoing controversy, the two episodes scheduled to air this Saturday and Sunday will be canceled," a representative explained, adding, "The special episodes prepared for the upcoming Seollal holiday will not be aired either."
Meanwhile, in the wake of the controversy, cast member Yoo Yeon Seok expressed his stance on animal cruelty.
The actor, who is also an animal lover, took to Instagram and raised his disappointment towards the show.
"There shouldn't be any more scenes where animals are killed for money and time. The safety of stunt actors must also be guaranteed," he wrote, alongside a photo of the incident.
Petition to Abolish 'The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won' Reached Blue House
Despite the apology of KBS, two online petitions reached Blue House seeking the cancellation of the historical Kdrama.
As of the morning of January 23, the petition gained over 60,000 and 120,000 signatures.
