Controversy erupted this month after broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo used a slang term while discussing the death of a police officer on the Disney+ variety show 운명전쟁49, sparking outrage among law enforcement and the public. The incident, which took place during the show’s second episode aired on February 11, 2026, quickly escalated into a national debate about respect, language, and the boundaries of entertainment.
The episode in question featured a segment where participants, including fortune tellers, were tasked with deducing the cause of death of the late police officer Lee Jae-hyun. Lee, a detective with the Seoul Western Police Station’s violent crimes unit, died in August 2004 after being stabbed by a suspect while attempting an arrest at a coffee shop in Mapo-gu. As the mission unfolded, a fortune teller remarked, “Isn’t being stabbed often called ‘칼빵’?”—using a slang term for stabbing. Jeon Hyun-moo repeated the term, responding, “A uniformed person, ‘칼빵.’ That’s too direct, isn’t it?” according to reporting from Herald Economy and Kyunghyang Shinmun.
The use of the term '칼빵'—a slang word with origins in criminal circles—immediately drew criticism. Singer Shin Dong, another participant, agreed with the term on-air, further fueling the controversy. The phrase, considered crude and disrespectful, was seen by many as trivializing the sacrifice of a public servant who died in the line of duty. The National Police Workplace Council, representing police officers nationwide, released a strongly worded statement condemning the broadcast. “We express deep anger and despair at the senseless behavior of the cast and production team who used the sacrifice of a public official as entertainment,” the council said. “The program mutilated the honor of the deceased and drove a nail into the hearts of 140,000 police officers fighting on the front lines.”
The council went further, describing the incident as a “clear second victimization” of the late officer and his family. They demanded a formal apology from the broadcaster to both the bereaved family and police officers, along with the immediate removal of the problematic episode from all platforms. Additionally, they called on the Korea Communications Standards Commission to impose the highest level of disciplinary action against the show, arguing that such acts undermine the pride of uniformed officers and threaten the integrity of the national safety net.
Jeon Hyun-moo’s agency, SM C&C, responded to the mounting criticism on February 23, 2026, with a public apology. In a statement carried by multiple outlets, including YTN and News1, the agency said, “We feel a heavy sense of responsibility for the hurt caused to the deceased and their family due to certain expressions used in the broadcast. Regardless of the context, greater caution should have been exercised when mentioning the deceased.” The statement continued, “Jeon Hyun-moo repeated certain words from other participants during the process of summarizing their remarks, without sufficiently considering the appropriateness of the expression. We deeply regret not showing proper respect to the deceased.”
The agency extended its apology not only to the family of the late officer but also to all viewers who may have felt discomfort. “We sincerely apologize to the deceased and their family. We also wish to express our regret to anyone who felt uneasy while watching the broadcast,” the statement read. SM C&C pledged to conduct an internal review and implement stricter standards to prevent similar incidents in the future. “We will ensure more rigorous internal checks and take all necessary measures to prevent recurrence,” the agency concluded.
This incident is not the first time 운명전쟁49 has come under fire for its handling of sensitive topics. The show, described as a survival game-style program featuring 49 fortune tellers testing their abilities through various missions, previously faced backlash for using personal information of other deceased public servants in its content. In one case, the family of a firefighter who died in the 2001 Hongje-dong fire tragedy objected to the use of his story, saying they had been led to believe the program’s intention was to honor heroes in a documentary format. According to statements from the family reported by Kyunghyang Shinmun, “The fortune tellers were guessing how my uncle died while the cast reacted with sensational wording and laughter. How is that honoring his sacrifice?” The production team responded that they had obtained consent for the use of information and images, and claimed to have reviewed the sensitive content thoroughly during planning.
Jeon Hyun-moo’s apology has done little to quell the anger among police officers and some members of the public. The National Police Workplace Council insisted that using a term like '칼빵'—particularly when referring to a fallen officer—amounts to “mocking the pride of those in uniform and insulting their dedication.” The council’s statement, quoted by Herald Economy, emphasized, “Even now, police officers are protecting citizens at the risk of their lives. This act diminishes their morale and is a grave offense.”
Others have weighed in on the broader implications of the controversy. Critics argue that the incident reflects a larger trend in Korean entertainment, where the pursuit of sensational content sometimes overshadows respect for individuals and their families. The use of real-life tragedies as material for variety shows has become a contentious issue, with calls for clearer guidelines and increased sensitivity in program production. Meanwhile, defenders of the show point out that 운명전쟁49 was designed as a competitive format for fortune tellers, not as a documentary, and that the producers did seek consent when using personal stories. However, even some supporters acknowledge that the language used in this case crossed a line.
In the aftermath, SM C&C’s public commitment to stricter internal standards and the promise to prevent similar incidents in the future may offer a path forward, but the episode has already left a mark. As the Korea Communications Standards Commission reviews the case, the entertainment industry—and the public—are left to ponder where the boundaries should lie between creative freedom and respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
For many, the controversy serves as a stark reminder that words carry weight, especially when they touch on loss, service, and memory. The hope is that lessons learned from this incident will lead to more thoughtful programming and a renewed sense of responsibility among broadcasters and entertainers alike.