Go Kyung-pyo's drunk driving incident threatens film release

The release of the film 'Original X Rice Cake Shop' faces uncertainty after actor Go Kyung-pyo collided with a street sweeper in Seoul on November 14. Go, whose blood alcohol concentration was 0.150%, faces license revocation following the incident that has already forced consecutive edits to his variety show appearances.

The fallout from actor Go Kyung-pyo's drunk driving accident is spreading beyond the broadcasting industry into the film industry. While variety programs featuring him as a regular cast member are undergoing consecutive edits and reductions in screen time, a film in which he stars alongside Ra Mi-ran has also entered a state of emergency. As the production moves through post-production with a target release next year, the unexpected setback is causing deep concern for the production team and the distributor.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on the 14th, Go Kyung-pyo collided with a street sweeper while driving his vehicle in Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Following the accident, his agency, CL&COMPANY, released an official statement admitting that Go had been driving under the influence. His blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was confirmed to be at a level that warrants license revocation. The agency stated that he has apologized to the victims and will fulfill his responsibilities regarding future legal dispositions and compensation for damages.

Go's BAC was reported to be 0.150%, significantly exceeding the 0.08% threshold for license revocation. There were no passengers in the vehicle at the time of the accident, and Go returned home after completing a police investigation. Police plan to conduct further investigations into the specific circumstances of the accident. While the agency emphasized that Go is admitting his fault and is deeply reflecting on his actions, the repercussions of the accident are already spreading throughout the entertainment industry.

The broadcasting industry was the first to be hit. On the 14th, the day of the accident, MBC's 'Hangout with Yoo' aired with most of Go's scenes deleted. The production team of tvN's 'Sixth Sense: B-Side', where he is a regular, also announced that they would edit his screen time as much as possible in the broadcast on the 15th and the final episode next week to avoid viewer discomfort. Production teams for programs that have already finished filming are also struggling with how to handle his appearances.

tvN's 'Amazing Saturday', for which Go has completed guest recordings, is also in a position where it must consider editing. 'Bo-gum's Magical 2', scheduled to air on the 29th, and the TVING original variety show 'The Great Escape: Urban Legends', set for release on the 2nd of next month, are also facing inevitable concerns regarding his screen time. Programs that have already progressed through filming, editing, and scheduling are now bearing the burden of sequential adjustments due to the actor's misconduct.

The film industry is no exception. Go completed filming for the movie 'Original X Rice Cake Shop' this year with actress Ra Mi-ran, and the work is currently in post-production aiming for a release next year. Although it was originally known by the title 'Original Drug Rice Cake Shop', the title was subsequently changed. An adaptation of the French film 'Paulette', the story follows Ahn Bok-ja (Ra Mi-ran), a rice cake shop owner, who accidentally witnesses a drug transaction. The film has also drawn interest as the feature debut of director Kim Gyeong-yun, a graduate of the Korea National University of Arts.

However, the sudden setback of the lead actor's drunk driving has increased uncertainty regarding the film's future schedule. As the project has already completed filming and entered post-production, various variables may need to be considered, ranging from the possibility of completely modifying or reshooting his scenes to determining the release timing and promotional strategies. However, no specific decision regarding a release delay or reshooting has been confirmed at this time. The distributor, SHOWBOX Co., Ltd., stated that they are discussing response measures after learning of the situation.

On the 15th, Go posted a personal apology on his social media account, explaining the circumstances of the accident and his wrongdoing in detail. He admitted that in the early hours of November 14, he collided with a street sweeper while driving after drinking, and that his BAC exceeded the license revocation limit. He further apologized, mentioning the situation where sanitation workers working in the early morning were put in danger and startled by his driving. He reflected that the drunk driving was entirely his fault, noting that he had previously told others not to drink and drive, yet he broke those very words.

He added that because there was no immediate place to pull over after the accident, he drove a bit further before stopping the car. He stated that he got out of the vehicle, checked the collision site, met two sanitation workers, apologized to them, and then waited for the police. Go mentioned that the victims had cautiously told him they were reporting the incident to the police, adding that in a situation where he had no right to be angry, he was actually more flustered and sorry by the reaction of the other party.

He also addressed the explanation regarding CCTV footage that captured him putting something into his coat pocket when the police arrived. Go explained that the item he put in his pocket in the video was the car key he was holding in his hand. He stepped forward to provide this explanation amidst questions raised about his actions at the time of the accident.

In his apology, he also mentioned his gratitude for his past variety show appearances, which gave him strength, and his recent broadcasting activities. He noted that during a time when he felt complicated emotions, not knowing how to proceed as an actor, he gained strength himself by socializing and laughing with people on variety shows. Recalling viewers' comments that they briefly forgot their hard days by watching his broadcasts, he expressed even deeper apologies for the fact that the production teams and staff must now face the difficult decision of re-editing scenes and adjusting long-prepared schedules because of him.

Go promised to cooperate sincerely with the police investigation, take necessary measures to recover from the accident's damages, and take full responsibility for the legal dispositions. He also declared that all scheduled activities would be suspended. Although he repeated his apologies several times in an apology letter exceeding 1,200 characters, the practical damage caused by his drunk driving and the disruption to broadcasting and film schedules cannot be undone by apologies alone. In particular, as 'Original X Rice Cake Shop', which is preparing for release next year, faces an unexpected crisis, the burden left on fellow actors, production teams, and staff by Go's misconduct is expected to continue for some time.

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