A South Korean politician has recommended that President Lee Jae Myung play Modern Warfare 4 to better understand the threat posed by inadequate military defences. It is not the usual national security briefing, but independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon believes the game's fictional destruction makes the point clearly enough.
The campaign depicts North Korea invading South Korea, forcing players to defend the country as the conflict escalates. Its storyline has prompted debate, including concerns that portraying such an attack could deepen hostility towards North Korea.
Han rejected that criticism in an October 23 Facebook post reported by The Korea Herald. Instead, he argued that the scenario reflects a genuine security risk and offers a warning about military readiness.
“I recommend the president play this game and feel firsthand what kind of devastation unfolds when defence preparedness falls short,” Han wrote. “I hope the image of a Seoul reduced to ashes in the game remains in the realm of fiction.”
He pointed to North Korea's invasion on June 25, 1950, and said the country's military threat remains real. In his view, the debate should focus less on whether the game's premise is provocative and more on the question it raises about South Korea's ability to defend itself.
“Rather than frowning at the game for depicting a North Korean invasion, we need to focus on the question it poses,” Han said.
The recommendation also served as criticism of Lee's national security policies. Han raised concerns about South Korea's preparedness and warned against reducing joint military exercises with the United States.
“Peace cannot be preserved through vague hope that relies on the goodwill of the other side,” he added. “It can only be protected when we assume the worst and prepare thoroughly.”
