Battle of Fates has issued an official apology and announced a re-edit following controversy over alleged disrespect toward deceased public servants.
On February 27, the production team released a formal statement addressing the issue. “We honor the noble sacrifices of the late Fire Captain Kim Cheol Hong and the late Police Senior Officer Lee Jae Hyun. We also extend our gratitude to the firefighters and police officers who continue to risk their lives for the safety of our citizens,” the statement read. “The production team has carefully listened to the bereaved families and related parties. In accordance with their wishes, we have decided to re-edit the relevant portion.”
They continued, “We once again sincerely apologize to the bereaved families, firefighters, police officers, and viewers who were hurt by our shortcomings and negligence. We will take all feedback to heart and strengthen our production process moving forward.”
The controversy began after the show introduced Firefighter Kim Cheol Hong, who died in the 2001 Hongje-dong fire in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, as a deceased subject in one of its segments. Fortune tellers on the program speculated about the circumstances of his death, mentioning possibilities such as fire, collapse, or crushing injuries. Host Jun Hyun Moo further drew criticism after referencing the cause of death of a fallen police officer and using a slang expression considered inappropriate.
Following the broadcast, the Firefighters’ Union under the Korean Government Employees’ Union Federation released a statement on February 19 titled, “The Death of a Fallen Firefighter Cannot Be Used as Entertainment Content,” demanding an official apology.
In response, the production team stated on February 20 that they would “humbly accept the criticism” and offered a sincere apology to the bereaved families and fellow firefighters who were hurt. Jun Hyun Moo also bowed his head in apology through his agency, SM C&C, stating, “Regardless of context, I should have been more careful when speaking about the deceased.”
Sources: Daum