South Korea has raised objections to a video posted by the Israeli embassy in Seoul, depicting a hypothetical attack on the capital city by masked assailants. The video, which was shared on the embassy’s social media channels, drew concerns from the South Korean government and has since been deleted.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had requested the Israeli embassy to take down the video, stating that it was inappropriate to draw parallels between the security situation in another country and the actions of Hamas. In a statement, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that while the killing and kidnapping of Israeli civilians by Hamas cannot be justified, the production and distribution of this video were deemed inappropriate.
The footage in question portrayed a South Korean woman in Seoul on Christmas Day, watching her daughter sing carols at a school talent show, when an air raid warning on her phone disrupted the event. Gunfire and explosions were heard through the city, and the woman, covered in blood, was then abducted by an armed assailant, forcibly separated from her daughter.
The video included details of Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, along with subtitles that posed the question, “Imagine if it happened to you. What would you do?” The Israeli embassy stated that the purpose of the video was to help South Koreans understand the emotions and experiences of Israelis in the current war situation.
Sanad, a fact-checking agency, verified the existence of the video before it was taken down. The South Korean government’s objection to the video highlights the sensitivity of using such imagery to depict a hypothetical scenario in another country.
Israel has been engaged in a campaign to destroy the Palestinian armed group in retaliation for the October 7 attack, which claimed the lives of 1,139 people, according to Israeli authorities. Hamas also kidnapped approximately 240 people, with 129 individuals still being held in Gaza, according to Israeli reports.
In response to the attack, Israel has relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 21,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and the destruction of numerous buildings, including hospitals and schools. This has led to a dire humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.
The Israeli embassy’s video, although now deleted, aimed to create empathy among South Koreans by reconstructing the horrifying incident. Israel’s ambassador in Seoul, Akiva Tor, acknowledged the deletion of the social media post and stated that the intention was to help South Koreans understand the ongoing war situation, despite the physical distance between the two countries.
South Korea’s objection to the video serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding the portrayal of sensitive events in international contexts. The incident highlights the need for careful consideration and respect for the sensitivities of other nations when discussing conflicts and security situations.
As tensions persist in the region, it remains crucial for diplomatic efforts to focus on fostering understanding and empathy rather than inadvertently causing further division or misunderstanding.
