Netflix Looking Into Several Shocking Claims That “When Life Gives You Tangerines” Production Mistreated And Verbally Abused Extras And Staff Members
Amid explosive allegations of mistreatment and verbal abuse on the set of the drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” Netflix has officially responded to the controversy.
On May 28, a Netflix representative told OSEN, “Netflix is continuously working with production partners in Korea to create a better production environment. We are currently confirming the facts of the situation, and we will thoroughly review any confirmed issues to prevent similar cases from happening again.”
Earlier that day, multiple allegations surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the production staff of abusive behavior toward extras during filming.
User A claimed that “When Life Gives You Tangerines” was notorious among extras as a dreaded schedule, alleging that extras were forced to cut their hair without consent, provided with no support, and left unfed in cold winter weather. “Even elderly extras were left waiting in the cold with nothing to eat. No snack tables or food trucks were offered, and we were dumped at random restaurants with only 30 minutes to eat,” the post said.
They added, “The costume team wouldn’t even allow thermal wear under our costumes during freezing winter scenes because it would ruin the look. It was like being treated as slaves. On one snowy day, we were kept outside in the cold until one of the lead actors stepped in and brought us near a heater — that was the first time I saw such compassion on that set.”
Another alleged staffer, B, who claimed to be in charge of bus transportation and maintenance, also came forward. He said, “The director cursed at me for not moving the bus, even though no cue was given. When I pointed it out, he exploded, saying things like ‘What the hell is this guy doing here?’” B further alleged that the production tried to avoid paying overdue rental fees and overtime wages, saying, “They always tried to cut costs, skip paying for extra hours, and claimed ignorance by blaming subcontractors.”
He also said, “No accommodations were provided. For dinner, we got a cold Mom’s Touch burger and a can of soda. There were no waiting rooms, so we had to shiver outside for hours in freezing temperatures.”
B also recalled overhearing a production assistant yelling at extras, while suddenly becoming overly polite when lead actors were present. “It was like magic watching how the crew’s tone and expression changed when a top actor arrived.”
Another staffer, C, who said he helped with driving due to a staff shortage, revealed he was never paid and was verbally abused, “Did they blow the entire 60 billion won budget on celebrities? They tried to underpay us, avoid overtime compensation, and provide the bare minimum. We shot for three days straight in Jeonju, Beolgyo, and Andong using different buses each time. They didn’t cover accommodations and only gave us a burger and a soda, with no place to stay warm.”
A fourth individual, D, accused the crew of damaging rented buses with hardware store spray paint. “When caught, the person just said, ‘We’ll remove it with thinner,’ acting like it wasn’t a big deal. These irresponsible people think they know better than professionals and end up causing accidents,” they said, pointing to further unpaid overtime and unprofessional conduct.
This isn’t the first controversy surrounding the drama’s production. In 2023, a netizen complained about being rudely blocked from accessing a rape flower field during filming in Gochang. “When I tried to take a picture, a staff member shouted, ‘Don’t take photos!’ It was very uncomfortable,” they wrote. Other visitors commented with similar complaints, confirming that the drama being filmed was “When Life Gives You Tangerines.”
At the time, the production team apologized via OSEN, saying, “We sincerely apologize to visitors for any discomfort caused during filming. While we tried to minimize inconvenience during safe shooting and spoiler prevention, we acknowledge we should have paid more attention.”
As Netflix continues to investigate the recent allegations, all eyes are on how this may impact the drama’s reputation and production practices moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Source: (A)
