The production team of SBS’s ‘Master of Living’ is currently at the center of a controversy over their questionable filming methods.
On the 12th, a famous croissant shop posted on their social media account, stating, “These days, broadcasts air things on public channels without even asking for permission.” The writer, presumed to be the shop owner, heavily criticized the show, saying, “‘Master of Living’ is truly low quality. I haven’t watched it for a long time and it’s the program I hate the most.” They further claimed, “There was no prior permission or any discussion of consent,” adding that despite clearly telling the crew not to film early in the morning, they secretly filmed with mobile phones, which led the owner to threaten to call the police.
The owner specifically claimed that the production team approached them repeatedly even after a clear refusal, involving persistent requests and attempts to persuade them. They expressed strong dissatisfaction with the crew’s recruitment methods, highlighting the one-sided nature of the filming attempt.
Previously, SBS’s ‘Master of Living’ featured the bakery in a special titled “War of Bread: Korea’s Best Croissant.” The broadcast did not clearly confirm whether prior consent was obtained, and only scenes filmed from outside the store were included.
As the controversy grew, netizens who re-watched the episode reacted strongly, commenting, “It looks like it was filmed secretly,” “The program crossed the line,” and “I didn’t know they filmed this rudely.” So far, the production team has not released an official statement.
SBS’s ‘Master of Living’ is a representative educational program in Korea that first aired in 2005 and has surpassed 1,000 episodes. It is known for highlighting the lives, know-how, and craftsmanship of “masters” who have dedicated themselves to a specific field for a long time. It has consistently drawn viewer interest by discovering hidden experts in various fields and introducing their philosophies and secrets.
