MBC and tvN's "Jeong Nyeoni" production companies have entered into a legal dispute. MBC claims to have suffered damages due to changes in the programming schedule, while the production companies argue that it was MBC's delay in negotiating the schedule and production costs that caused the issue.

MBC released an official statement on the 12th. The statement mentioned that MBC had filed for damages against the production company and also requested a provisional seizure of assets, which the court approved.

MBC stated, "Based on 'damages claim for unfair competition prevention due to unauthorized use of work results and breach of contract negotiations,' we applied for a provisional seizure, which the court upheld."

There are three production companies involved: Studio N (a subsidiary of Naver Webtoon), Management mmm (Kim Tae-ri's agency), and NPO Entertainment (Shin Ye-eun's agency).

"Jeong Nyeoni" is based on a popular webtoon of the same name. In 2020, Studio N and Management mmm signed the rights contract and planned to adapt it into a drama.

Kim Tae-ri was cast as the lead. In August 2022, they proposed the direction to Jeong Jin, an MBC PD known for reviving MBC dramas with "The Red Sleeve."

In November 2022, the production companies visited MBC to formally propose the schedule and production costs. They informed MBC that the first filming would begin in September 2023.

However, disagreements arose over production costs. The production companies repeatedly asked MBC if they could meet the proposed costs, claiming that MBC delayed its response for six months.

The production companies stated, "We informed MBC in advance that the filming dates for 'Jeong Nyeoni' were set. We also requested multiple times that they respond promptly to avoid being deprived of opportunities to consider other platforms."

In May 2023, MBC finally responded with proposed production costs. However, the production companies found these costs unacceptable.

Despite this, the production companies continued to negotiate with MBC, rejecting offers from other platforms in good faith, and self-funded the production costs for filming.

A month before the first shoot, tensions reached a breaking point. MBC demanded the replacement of key staff from the production company, citing cost reductions.

Unable to delay the first shoot further, the production companies informed MBC that they had no choice but to look for other platforms. MBC responded, "Do so if you can."

In September 2023, the production companies approached Studio Dragon, a subsidiary of CJ ENM. Studio Dragon accepted all proposals, and "Jeong Nyeoni" was confirmed to air on tvN.

The production companies explained, "We never found a middle ground on production costs with MBC. It was only 20 days before filming that MBC said we could look elsewhere, forcing us to delay filming by over a month to move to another platform."

MBC claims to have suffered significant damages, having deployed personnel for a year to prepare for pre-production, only for the schedule to fall through, affecting their lineup.

Additionally, PD Jeong and several assistant directors left MBC, and PD Jeong continues to direct "Jeong Nyeoni" as a freelancer. The production companies stated that PD Jeong's departure was a voluntary decision to enhance the work's quality.

The production companies later contacted MBC, expressing willingness to pay for any internal costs incurred but received no response as MBC ceased communication and opted for legal action.

Regarding the provisional asset seizure, the production companies stated, "This is not a definitive court judgment but a simple provisional measure based on MBC's unilateral claims without an opportunity for the production companies to present their case."

The legal battle between MBC and the production companies is expected to continue. However, since there is no injunction to ban the broadcast, "Jeong Nyeoni" will air as scheduled, with the first episode premiering on tvN on the 12th of next month.

Set in the 1950s shortly after the Korean War, "Jeong Nyeoni" is a period drama depicting the journey of a girl named Jeong Nyeon (played by Kim Tae-ri), who joins and grows as a part of an all-female theater troupe.

<Photo provided by tvN>

<Photo provided by tvN>