Families of those killed in the Seoul crowd crush demanded that real footage be removed from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

The October release Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 uses several seconds of footage at the start of the game showing bodies lying on the ground and attempts to provide first aid to the injured. In the game’s plot, North Korea attacks South Korea.

The families of the crowd crush victims and the civic groups supporting them issued a statement demanding that Activision remove this clip. They said they were shocked by the use of images of despair and chaos, and that people who took part in rescuing the injured or witnessed the tragedy are still experiencing trauma.

The statement also noted that offensive comments about the victims are spreading online in connection with the game’s plot. In response, Activision confirmed to the South Korean agency Yonhap that it had indeed used the footage in the game, but without malicious intent, and did not promise to remove the clip.

The company said it had no intention of mentioning or treating any real tragic events lightly, including the Itaewon tragedy. As Meduza reports, the game was released just days before the next anniversary of the crowd crush that occurred on the night of October 30, 2022.

At the time, about 100,000 people gathered in an alley in the trendy Itaewon district during Halloween celebrations. It was one of the first mass events in Seoul after the lifting of restrictions imposed because of the COVID pandemic, and as a result of the crowd crush, 160 people died.

Sources

• Material: meduza.io