Jun Hyun-moo Denies 'I Live Alone' Kazakhstan Trip Sponsorship Allegations; Embassy Confirms Missing Car Rental Documents

Broadcaster Jun Hyun-moo has denied allegations of broadcast sponsorship regarding his impromptu trip to Kazakhstan on the MBC variety show "I Live Alone," but it has been confirmed that there were issues with missing documents during the car rental process.

According to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan on the 26th, the embassy posted a notice on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Travel Safety website titled "Guidelines on Local Driving for Short-Term Visitors (Tourists) to Kazakhstan." The embassy stated, "Even if you hold an international driving permit, you cannot drive without your original South Korean driver's license and a notarized Russian translation."

While South Korea issues international driving permits under the Geneva Convention, Kazakhstan is a party to the Vienna Convention and does not recognize international driving permits issued by South Korea. Even if an international driving permit is notarized by the Korean embassy or consulate-general, it cannot be used for driving locally.

However, on the episodes of "I Live Alone" broadcast on the 14th and 21st, Jun Hyun-moo was shown embarking on an impromptu trip to Kazakhstan and renting a car immediately after submitting only his international driving permit and passport, sparking suspicions among some viewers that the production team had pre-arranged the process.

In response, the production team of "I Live Alone" flatly refuted the claims, stating, "We have never received filming support or sponsorships." An acquaintance of Jun Hyun-moo, A, posted videos of an impromptu trip they took together in the past on social media, stating that they were "the actual videos that became the motif for this Kazakhstan episode," and Jun Hyun-moo showed support by "liking" the post.

However, issues surrounding the process of renting a vehicle from a local rental car company remained separate.

The production team admitted that filming proceeded without being aware of procedural issues, stating, "After receiving inquiries following the broadcast, we checked with the embassy and belatedly confirmed that a separate notarization process is required." They added, "The embassy stated they will issue another notice to prevent local citizens from suffering harm. We will be more careful in producing the show moving forward."

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)