[Digital Today reporter Ho-jung Lee] Activision issued an official apology over its use of real video from the Itaewon tragedy in the game 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4'. After bereaved families and civic groups called for its removal, it decided to delete the scene in an update next month.

Activision said in an official statement on Oct. 30 that it plans to completely remove the problematic footage in a game update to be released on Nov. 12.

The controversy erupted after a cinematic video in 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4', released on Oct. 23, included scenes from the Itaewon tragedy.

The game is set in a fictional scenario in which war breaks out on the Korean peninsula following a North Korean invasion of South Korea. In the opening, real news footage is used to depict a situation in which the war causes civilian casualties. Among the material, broadcast footage showing CPR being performed on a collapsed person during the Itaewon tragedy on Oct. 29, 2022 was inserted for about 3 seconds.

The 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and a civic response committee issued a statement on Oct. 28 calling it inappropriate to use footage of an actual disaster for entertainment purposes and demanded the scene be removed. The Korea Game Consumer Association also urged an explanation of how the footage was used, an apology and a replacement of the scene.

Activision previously explained that it used real news footage to convey a fictional story and that it had no intention of downplaying the tragedy. It did not, however, state a specific position at the time on whether it would remove the footage or issue a formal apology.

In an additional statement on Oct. 30, Activision announced the removal schedule and apologised to the bereaved families and victims.

Activision said, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a fictional work produced based on realistic immersion," and explained that it had no intention, in using real news footage, of evoking tragic incidents including the Itaewon tragedy or downplaying the pain.