Bereaved families have voiced strong disapproval of the video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4" for its use of footage depicting the devastating Itaewon crowd crush in Seoul. The game reportedly incorporates video from the Oct. 29, 2022, incident to illustrate the aftermath of an imagined North Korean attack.
In a statement, the families expressed their dismay, stating, "We cannot help but be appalled that the chaotic and desperate scene, in which many citizens at the site performed CPR to save one another and victims lay on the freezing street, was used as it was to create a scene in a game."
Thursday marks the fourth anniversary of the crush, which occurred when over 100,000 people gathered in Seoul's Itaewon district to celebrate Halloween. The narrow streets became dangerously overcrowded, leading to a situation where movement was impossible and some individuals struggled to breathe.
The families continued, "Using such an event as material for a game made for entertainment is in itself highly inappropriate and senseless. If the game developer has even a minimum of courtesy and empathy towards the victims, it should take corrective action without delay."
Activision, the game's developer, has not yet commented on the families' request to edit the scene and remove the footage. "Modern Warfare 4" had already faced criticism for its premise, which centers on North Korea invading South Korea. The two nations have technically been in a state of conflict since the Korean War armistice in 1953, as a peace treaty was never signed.
During the game's launch, Tyler Bahl, Call of Duty's chief marketing officer, emphasized that the game is intended as entertainment. "We have to understand this is entertainment," he told Newsbeat.