Disney+ variety show ‘Battle of Fates 49’ faces backlash over fallen firefighter segment

Disney+ variety show ‘Battle of Fates 49’ has come under fire after airing a fortune telling mission based on a fallen firefighter, prompting backlash from the bereaved family, who claim the broadcast differed from what had been explained in advance.

Episodes 1 through 4 of ‘Battle of Fates 49’, released on the 11th, feature a survival format in which 49 fortune tellers — including shamans, saju readers, tarot readers, and physiognomists — compete through various missions. The controversy stems from a scene in Episode 2.

In the episode, producers provided participants with only a photo of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Chul Hong, along with his birth time and time of death, and asked them to infer the cause of his passing. Kim died in the line of duty during a fire in Hongje dong, Seodaemun gu, Seoul in 2001, and is known for publicizing the poem “Firefighter’s Prayer.”

During the broadcast, some contestants appeared to speculate about the circumstances of his death. One shaman suggested it was related to fire based on his saju, while another mentioned the possibility of collapse or crushing. According to official reports, Kim died after being trapped beneath a structure that collapsed during the fire.

After the scene spread across social media, the controversy quickly intensified. An individual identifying as Kim’s nephew questioned whether the production team had obtained proper family consent to use his photo and birth details. He claimed that the family had understood the program to be a documentary style project about heroes or martyrs when they agreed to participate.

He further stated that they had not been informed it was a shaman themed survival variety show, adding that the family would not have consented had they known the true format. The post also alleged that fellow firefighters expressed discomfort over the segment.

As criticism grows online, many netizens are questioning whether the concept was appropriate. Comments such as “This shows no respect for the deceased” and “Is it right to turn someone’s cause of death into a guessing mission?” continue to circulate.

As of now, the production company has not released an official statement, and attention is focused on how the controversy will unfold.