K-pop Stars Reportedly Investigated in Bali For Filming Without Permit

Prominent K-pop artists and other stars found themselves trapped in Bali, Indonesia after authorities confiscated their passports.

Korean Stars Detained In Bali

Approximately 30 cast members, including Girls Generation‘s Hyoyeon, Apink’s Bomi Yoon, broadcaster Choi Hee, former I.O.I actress Lim Na-young, and Secret Number’s Dita, as well as staff arrived in Bali on 21 April to film the show My Way Package Season 2: Pick Me Trip in Bali.

 

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A post shared by 픽미트립 (@pickmetrip_official)

They were scheduled to finish filming and return back to South Korea on 25 April.

Unfortunately, the production team faced detention after local authorities confiscated their passports and left them stranded in Bali while investigations took place.

What were the Balinese authorities investigating, you may ask?

The Show Was Allegedly Filmed Without Proper Permits

Allegedly, South Korea’s largest public broadcaster, the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), had not obtained proper filming permits for the show, causing authorities to intervene.

Those who had made commitments in South Korea had to hastily contact their teams and managers back home to make changes to their schedule as they were expected to only be able to return to South Korea the following week due to investigations.

SPOTV News cited an anonymous source with alleged links to the show, saying that the cast and crew may have failed to secure appropriate visas for their activities in Bali.

KBS watchers worried about whether the show, which was originally set to be broadcasted in May 2024, would be cancelled.

KBS Joy, a television channel operated by KBS N, has released a statement to South Korean media outlet Xportnews.

However, the statement neither confirmed nor denied the programme’s fate as other official broadcast arrangements were still under consideration.

Cast Released From Investigations

On 27 April, K-pop website Koreaboo reported that local police had released the idol cast after conducting investigations.

Koreaboo said that the cast had returned to their accommodations, and were preparing to go home.

A fan account on X (formerly Twitter) shared footage of one of the idols, Bomi, back in South Korea.

보미 무사히 한국 도착~! pic.twitter.com/p1umHUeO7Z

— 뽐마이크 (@bomi_mic) April 27, 2024

“Bomi arrived in Korea safely~!” the caption reads.

However, the crew – including the responsible production director – remains under investigation for the charge of filming without prior permission.

The fine for unauthorised filming is reported to be approximately S$100,000.

One Of The Idols Detained Is Balinese

Netizens pointed out that Dita, one of the idols who was detained, is Balinese.

Dita is an Indonesian singer from the girl group SECRET NUMBER who is known for their song Love, Maybe, an OST for popular K-drama Business Proposal.

 

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A post shared by SECRET NUMBER (시크릿넘버) (@secretnumber.official)

Online users found it humorous that Dita was detained in her own country.

As Dita’s father has a lineage that can be traced back to the King of the Karangasem Kingdom in Bali, she is said to be a part of the Royal Family of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, making the situation even more comical to netizens.