South Korean opposition urges president to play Call of Duty over North Korea
Lawmakers say the game's fictional invasion of Seoul shows real threats; a peace advocate warns it could strain ties with Pyongyang.
Key facts
Story- Opposition lawmakers want President Lee Jae Myung to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on North Korea.
- The game, released 23 October, depicts a fictional North Korean attack on South Korea.
- Critics say the president's stance on North Korea and defence needs more preparation, not hope.
What's new
South Korean opposition lawmakers have asked President Lee Jae Myung to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 before making more security decisions. The game came out on 23 October. It follows a South Korean Marine who defends his country from a surprise North Korean attack, with fighting in central Seoul. Han Dong-hoon, a former minister of justice who now sits as an independent conservative, posted on Facebook that the game is fiction but the threat is real. Fellow opposition leader Ahn Cheol-soo said even watching gameplay footage would help the president understand the dangers.
Why it matters
The row shows how a war video game can become a political issue in South Korea. Opposition figures use the game to argue that the government is too soft on North Korea. Some peace advocates fear that turning a real conflict into entertainment could harm relations between the two countries. For ordinary readers, the debate touches on how the government plans for national defence.
What others say
The South China Morning Post reported the controversy and the lawmakers' remarks. Kim Sung-jae, executive director of Seoul's Kim Dae-jung Peace Centre, warned about the game's portrayal of North Korea, according to the report.
What we don't know yet
The sources do not say whether the president has responded to the request. It is also unclear whether the government will change its policies in light of the criticism.
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