The new Call of Duty game appears to have left a considerable impression in South Korea.
A politician from the opposition party has called on President Lee Jae-myung to play the game so that he would be able to see the real threat of a North Korean invasion.
In a Facebook post on 23 Oct, Han Dong-hoon wrote about the new Call of Duty game which takes place in South Korea.
“I recommend that you play this game and experience firsthand what kind of catastrophe unfolds when security preparations are insufficient,” Mr Han said in an open address to the President.
Mr Han also said the game begins with a scene depicting North Korea invading South Korea.
He mentioned that he is still worried about the threat of the North Korean military.
“North Korea’s invasion of the South on June 25, 1950, was a historical event that actually happened, and North Korea’s military threat remains an undeniable reality today,” he said.
He also pointed to concerns that the video game might foster bad relations with their neighbour.
However, he stressed that it was important to pay attention to the question the game posed.
“Rather than frowning because it depicts a North Korean invasion, we need to pay attention to the questions this game raises,” he said. “If that day comes again, are we prepared?”
Source: The Korea Herald
He then criticised the ruling party, claiming they have not prepared South Korea for a possible invasion.
“Peace is not maintained by vague hopes relying on the other party’s goodwill,” he said.
Mr Han was not the only opposition politician to be critical of the President.
According to The Korea Herald, People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers have even called the President “North Korea’s last-resort defensive weapon”.
“Words that would only come out of Kim Jong-un’s mouth are now being spoken by the president of South Korea,” they claimed.
Like Mr Han, a PPP politician also recommended that the President give the new game a try.
The strong reactions against President Lee appear to stem from more than just the release of the popular video game.
On 19 Oct, President Lee questioned if North Korea’s nuclear arms could even be used in real combat, and said they simply “amount to last-resort defensive arms”.
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Featured image adapted from The Korea Herald and The Korea Herald.