KBS issues official apology for airing the opera 'Madame Butterfly' on Korea's National Liberation Day

South Korea’s national broadcaster, KBS (Korea Broadcasting System), has issued an official statement of apology for the controversy surrounding its selection of content on National Liberation Day (August 15 KST).

The broadcasting station stated on August 15,

“First and foremost, regarding the program in question which airs previously recorded performing arts productions, we would like to apologize to the viewers for raising concerns and causing disappointment. 

The opera ‘Madame Butterfly‘, written by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, tells the tragic love story of an American naval officer stationed in Japan and a Japanese woman. During their wedding scene in the opera, both the national anthem of the United States and the national anthem of Japan can be heard.

This performance was initially recorded on June 29 with intentions for it to air in late July; however, due to coverage of the Paris Olympics, the program was delayed until it ultimately aired in the early hours of National Liberation Day. 

Our station’s production staff failed to properly examine whether or not the contents of the program would cause problems based on its altered schedule, not to mention its timeliness, and for causing a disturbance on this meaningful day, National Liberation Day, we once again deeply apologize. 

So that such an occurrence does not happen again, we promise to investigate the details of this incident and assure that the those involved will take full responsibility. 

Furthermore, the broadcast of ‘Madame Butterfly Part 2’, originally scheduled to air later this evening, will be postponed until a later time.” 

The broadcasting station’s official statement did not address two other controversies which occurred on the same day, including showing South Korea’s national flag flipped upside down and scheduling the airing of a controversial documentary about the nation’s first president, Syngman Rhee.