The latest installment of the Call of Duty video game series, released last week by Activision, has sparked controversy in South Korea due to its use of real-life footage depicting a tragic event. Set in the fictional South Korean city of Hajnin under attack by North Korean forces, the game includes scenes intended to portray the emergency response to the fictional assault. However, some of these images were taken from actual news footage of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush in Seoul, a disaster in which nearly 160 people died after being trapped in a narrow alley during Halloween festivities.

The Itaewon tragedy remains one of the deadliest recent incidents in South Korea, prompting intense public debate on government accountability and emergency response failures. Families of the victims have strongly condemned Activision for incorporating the footage into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, calling the decision insensitive and inappropriate. The Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Association stated that survivors and rescuers continue to suffer trauma, which has been compounded by the use of these images for entertainment purposes. The group also highlighted the re-traumatization caused by hostile online commentary surrounding the tragedy.

Since the disaster, three individuals who assisted in the rescue efforts have died by suicide, including two firefighters diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder; the government has officially recognized them as victims of the incident. The inclusion of the footage in the game has also drawn criticism from the Korea Game Users Association and South Korea’s interior minister.

Responding to the backlash, Activision issued an apology to the families involved, explaining that the news clips were used solely to advance the game’s narrative and not to trivialize the real tragedy. The company announced that the footage will be removed in an update scheduled for November 12. Activision did not respond to separate inquiries regarding the controversy.

Call of Duty, launched in 2003, is one of the best-selling video game franchises globally, with titles historically selling millions of copies. Although Activision has not released sales figures for Modern Warfare 4, the game has gained substantial popularity in South Korea, aided by its storyline set on the Korean Peninsula and detailed depictions of local environments such as convenience stores. This attention helped the game reach the top of the Steam platform’s best-seller list in South Korea.

Beyond the issue of the footage, the game’s premise imagining another war between North and South Korea has sparked unease among some South Koreans. The Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953 but no formal peace treaty, leaving the nations technically at war for over seven decades. Some conservative South Korean politicians have seized on the game to criticize President Lee Jae Myung, a liberal leader whom they accuse of being too conciliatory toward North Korea. They argue that Modern Warfare 4 underscores the importance of military preparedness and have suggested that the president should engage with the game’s message.