"Using the Noble Sacrifice of Fallen Heroes as Game Material?"
The survival entertainment program 'Destiny War 49' on the OTT platform Disney+ faced intense criticism for using the causes of death of fallen firefighters and police officers as entertainment missions focused on sensationalism, ultimately leading to their surrender. The production team decided to completely re-edit the controversial episode.
According to reports from the broadcasting industry on the 28th, the production team of 'Destiny War 49' stated in an official statement, "We have decided to re-edit the relevant parts in consideration of the wishes of the bereaved families of the late Fire Chief Kim Cheol-hong and Sergeant Lee Jae-hyun." The production team expressed deep apologies to the bereaved families, firefighters, police officers, and viewers who were hurt by their negligence.
◇ "Did You Get Stabbed?"... Outrage Over Crossing the Line
This controversy was triggered by the 'Guess the Cause of Death' mission in the second episode released on the 11th. In the process of guessing the causes of death of actual fallen public servants, inappropriate remarks and behaviors were broadcast without filters.
In particular, one participant used the slang term "stabbing" when discussing the cause of death of Sergeant Lee, who died in the line of duty while apprehending a suspect in 2004, which sparked outrage among viewers. Additionally, the scene where the cause of death of Fire Chief Kim, who died in the 2001 Hongje-dong fire disaster, was speculated in a game-like manner regarding the possibility of fire or crushing also received severe criticism.
◇ From Controversy Over Family Consent to Re-editing
Initially, the production team explained that they had obtained the consent of the bereaved families, but some family members protested, stating, "It was only a formal consent, and we did not hear the detailed intentions," which further worsened public opinion. Police and fire organizations also warned of strong responses, stating, "They consumed the fallen heroes as entertainment."
Ultimately, following the first apology on the 24th, the production team announced subsequent measures of complete deletion and re-editing of the problematic scenes. The previously released version will be replaced with the re-edited video.
Meanwhile, 'Destiny War 49' is a survival program where 49 individuals, including shamans, compete in divination abilities. This incident has left a heavy task regarding the minimum ethical consciousness and expression levels that should be maintained in the pursuit of sensational material in OTT entertainment.
