# Activision Call of Duty Itaewon footage controversy

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/activision-call-of-duty-itaewon-footage-controversy
> Updated: 2026-11-02T00:02:41.000Z. Sources: 54. Developments: 3.

Activision faced significant backlash in South Korea following the release of ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’. Bereaved families of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush and various civic groups demanded the removal of approximately three seconds of real news broadcast footage used in the game’s opening cinematic. The footage, which depicted paramedics performing CPR and scenes of chaos, was used to illustrate civilian casualties during a fictional North Korean invasion.

Critics, including the 10/29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association, described the use of the imagery for entertainment as ‘insensate’ and ‘inappropriate’. South Korean Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung further characterized the inclusion of the footage as a violation of human decency.

While Activision initially stated there was ‘absolutely no intention of mentioning or treating lightly any actual tragic events’, the company subsequently issued a formal apology. Activision expressed deep condolences to the victims and their families, asserting there was no intention to trivialize or minimize the real-world tragedy. The company confirmed that the offending video material will be completely removed via a scheduled game update on November 12.

## Timeline

### 2026-11-02: Activision to remove Itaewon tragedy footage from Modern Warfare 4

Activision will remove real-life footage of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 following backlash from victims' families and South Korean officials.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/activision-to-remove-itaewon-tragedy-footage-from-modern-warfare-4

### 2026-10-30: Activision apologizes for using Itaewon tragedy footage in Call of Duty

Activision will remove real footage of the 2022 Itaewon tragedy from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 following backlash from victims' families and South Korean organizations.

32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/activision-apologizes-for-using-itaewon-tragedy-footage-in-call-of-duty

### 2026-10-27: Activision to remove Itaewon tragedy footage from Call of Duty

Activision will remove real footage of the 2022 Seoul Itaewon crowd crush from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 following intense criticism from victims' families and civic groups.

21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/activision-faces-backlash-over-itaewon-tragedy-footage-in-call-of-duty

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Cite as: Activision Call of Duty Itaewon footage controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/activision-call-of-duty-itaewon-footage-controversy