Controversy Grows Over Remarks in Episode 2's "Guess the Cause of Death"
Production Team Issues "Deep Apology" Amid Protests from Bereaved Families and Organizations
The Disney Plus variety show "Woonmyeonjeonjaeng 49" has come under fire for allegedly disparaging fallen police officers and firefighters, prompting the production team to announce that it will edit the problematic episode.
On the 27th, the team behind Woonmyeonjeonjaeng 49 released an official statement, saying, "We have been listening carefully to the families of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Cheolhong and the late Police Sergeant Lee Jaehyun, as well as other concerned parties," and revealed plans to re-edit the episode. They added, "Once again, we deeply apologize," and stated, "We will reorganize and strengthen our production process." However, they did not specify which scenes would be edited or how the changes would be made.
The controversy erupted in the second episode, which was released on February 11, 2026. In that episode, the cast was tasked with deducing the cause of death of the late Police Sergeant Lee Jaehyun, who died in the line of duty in 2004 after being stabbed while apprehending a violent criminal suspect, and the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Cheolhong, who perished during rescue activities at a fire in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun District, Seoul, in 2001.
During the episode, one of the cast members, a shaman, mentioned the circumstances of Lee Jaehyun's death, saying, "To put it bluntly, when someone is stabbed, people call it 'kalppang' (slang for knife wound). I can see that he was stabbed." The host, Jun Hyunmoo, responded, "A uniformed officer was stabbed-it's a bit too direct, isn't it?" Since this exchange was aired without modification, criticism arose that the program had made light of the deceased officers.
The National Police Labor Union criticized the show, stating, "The noble sacrifice of our uniformed heroes has been reduced to gossip fodder on a variety show," and demanded an official apology from both the production team and the cast. They further condemned the program for "tarnishing the honor of the deceased." Firefighter associations also expressed regret that the deaths of fallen firefighters had been used as entertainment material.
The bereaved families also voiced their objections. The family of Fire Lieutenant Kim Cheolhong asserted that the production team had explained the program's purpose differently to obtain consent for the use of photos. Kim's nephew criticized the production via social media, stating, "They told our family that they were making a program honoring national heroes to get our consent for using the photos, but in reality, the show mocked my uncle's death."
As the controversy escalated, Jun Hyunmoo issued an apology through his agency on February 23, 2026, admitting, "I failed to show proper respect to the deceased." The production team also retreated from its previous position that prior consent had been obtained for the use of portraits, and decided to re-edit the episode.
Woonmyeonjeonjaeng 49 is a survival-style variety show in which 49 shamans and fortune tellers appear to deduce the fate of given incidents and individuals. The program has faced fierce criticism over its handling of public sacrifice in this latest incident.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
