Rapper Seo Chul-gu, appearing on 'The Game of Blood X,' opened up directly about the controversy after sustaining injuries during a scuffle with Shin Seung-yong during filming.
On the 26th, Seo Chul-gu posted a lengthy message on his SNS.
Episode 5 of the Wavve original 'The Game of Blood X,' released earlier on the 24th, featured a 'day of plunder' mission focused on the safe's remaining balance. Seo Chul-gu was on the raiding team tasked with looting the safe to increase their assets and engaged in a physical struggle with Shin Seung-yong, who was trying to stop them.
Physical force was partially permitted, but a scuffle broke out when Shin Seung-yong tried to snatch items from Seo Chul-gu's pockets, causing severe injuries to Seo Chul-gu's hand. In addition, footage showed Shin Seung-yong committing violent acts against Park Ji-min and Lee Sang-min, which shocked viewers.
In response, Shin Seung-yong said, "I knew I would be criticized even before the broadcast aired, but seeing myself in the footage looked really bad. After watching the show, I called Lee Sang-min, Park Ji-min and Seo Chul-gu to apologize again," adding, "No words or excuses can justify violent behavior. I am truly sorry, I regret it and I am reflecting on my actions."
In particular, Shin Seung-yong said, "I did not realize that Seo Chul-gu's hand was bound by a rope, and I did not expect him to be injured to that extent," adding, "It is entirely my fault that Seo Chul-gu was hurt. After checking the wound, I promised to cover the treatment costs."
After Shin Seung-yong's apology was released, Seo Chul-gu wrote, "I thought that everyone accepts a certain amount of misunderstanding or loss in life. So I tried my best not to make a fuss and to endure it. Then early yesterday morning, I experienced a panic attack for the first time in my life. When my cognition and reason returned, I reflected deeply on how things escalated to this point."
Seo Chul-gu said, "It is not that I have never received criticism during my career. When I have been pointed out for shortcomings, I have tried to accept them humbly and endure. But this time, I could not easily make sense of it. The gap between what I personally felt and judged at the scene and the criticisms poured at me by some people after the broadcast felt very large. Maybe that's why I became confused."
He continued, "Even if the rules allow the use of force on the show, everyone's shared understanding should be that the safety of cast members and a minimum standard must come first — the production team, cast and viewers would all agree on that. However, I also think the exact location of that minimum standard can differ from person to person."
Seo Chul-gu explained, "As someone who tends to overinvest in games, I understand better than anyone the excitement and overheating that can occur on set. I believe my injury that day was more of an accident than a malicious act. Contrary to some misunderstandings, I was not wrapping a bag strap tightly around my hand. While holding a loop-shaped rope hooked on my wrist, the rope momentarily entangled my hand and scraped it as an unexpectedly strong force and a misaligned pulling angle occurred."
Regarding the wound at the time, Seo Chul-gu recalled, "I experienced intense pain and a deep wound. My injury did not appear on the broadcast, but there was bleeding, my hand twisted and would not move, and the tremor in my hand would not stop. The on-site team doctor said it would leave a scar and advised me not to participate in any more missions. At the scene, reports of collisions, injuries and dangerous situations were coming from various places, not just me."
He added, "The environment at the time was dangerous enough that a single mistake could lead to an accident, with high ceilings, low glass railings and narrow stairs. Money was scattered on the floor, and I felt the game's original purpose and direction were becoming increasingly blurred. In the heated, unchecked atmosphere, it was difficult for conversation or mediation to proceed smoothly."
Seo Chul-gu said, "Nevertheless, we tried to continue discussing and resolve things regarding the fourth safe and the mission. But given the on-site conditions at the time and the characteristics of the fifth safe, we judged that forcing the mission forward would likely cause an accident, so we ultimately decided not to proceed. It was a situation I had never experienced before."
However, those processes were omitted from the broadcast. Seo Chul-gu expressed regret, saying, "The broadcast omitted much of the context about the on-site danger, injury circumstances and our efforts to prevent accidents while trying to continue the game. It seems to have focused mainly on people reacting to the situation with harsh swearing and anger."
Seo Chul-gu said, "I do not fail to understand edits made for cast protection or broadcast entertainment," but added, "Under that banner, it was really hard to bear that the judgments made to prevent threats and accidents felt at the scene and each person's best efforts were consumed and misunderstood in completely different ways."
He said, "Many people worried about my left hand, but it has recovered. A smaller-than-expected scar remained, and because I already have a large scar on my right hand, it somehow feels familiar. Fortunately, Seung-yong contacted me and promised to cover the treatment. I will receive proper treatment going forward."
Below is Seo Chul-gu's full post.
I thought that everyone accepts a certain amount of misunderstanding or loss in life. So I tried my best not to make a fuss and to swallow it. Then early yesterday morning, I experienced a panic attack for the first time in my life. Experiencing the symptoms I had only heard about, that feeling I thought I would never know in my life felt terrifying and strangely close.
When my cognitive ability and reason returned, I pondered how things could have reached this state. It is not that I have never been criticized during my career. When I was pointed out for my shortcomings, I tried to accept them humbly and endure. Usually I could anticipate and understand to some extent what I had done wrong and how the world would view me. But this time, I could not easily grasp it. The gap between the overall situation I personally felt and judged at the scene and the criticisms some people poured on me after the broadcast felt extremely large. That may be why I became confused.
Even if the rules on the show allow the use of force, I believe production, cast and viewers would all agree that the safety of participants and a minimum standard must be prioritized. No matter how fierce the game, if force is met with greater force in endless retaliation, I think the direction and purpose will be lost. However, I also think the location of that minimum standard can vary from person to person.
In fact, the production team conducted pre-safety briefings for raids and plunders in every season I participated in, and even last season they distinguished between glass that could be broken and glass that could not, giving us minimum safety standards. Cast members also intervened impartially when the game overheated and have worked to keep that line. No one truly wanted another person to get hurt. If anything, that is why everyone could immerse themselves in the game more.
As someone who normally overinvests in games, I understand better than anyone the excitement and overheating on set. Therefore, I view my injury that day as more of an accident than a malicious act. Contrary to some misunderstandings, I was not wrapping a bag strap tightly around my hand. While holding a loop-shaped rope hooked on my wrist, the rope momentarily entangled my hand and scraped it when an unexpectedly strong force and a misaligned pulling angle occurred.
As a result, I experienced intense pain and a deep wound. My injury did not appear on the broadcast, but there was bleeding, my hand twisted and would not move, and the tremor in my hand would not stop. The on-site team doctor also said it would leave a scar and advised me not to participate in further missions. At the scene, reports of collisions, injuries and dangerous circumstances were heard from various places. Given that the degree and recurrence of injuries were witnessed on site, I think it would have been difficult both situationally and logically to continue the game regardless.
In fact, the environment at the time was dangerous enough that a single mistake could lead to an accident, with high ceilings, low glass railings and narrow stairs. Money was scattered on the floor, and I felt the game's original purpose and direction were becoming increasingly blurred. In the nonstop overheated atmosphere and mutual checks, it was difficult for conversation or mediation to proceed smoothly. Nevertheless, we tried to continue discussing and resolve things regarding the fourth safe and the mission. But given the on-site situation and the characteristics of the fifth safe, we judged that forcing the mission forward would likely cause an accident, so we ultimately decided not to proceed. It was a situation I had never experienced before.
However, the broadcast omitted much of the context about the on-site danger, injury circumstances and our efforts to prevent accidents while trying to continue the game. It seems to have focused mainly on people reacting to the situation with harsh swearing and anger.
I do not fail to understand edits made for cast protection or broadcast entertainment. But under that banner, it was really hard to bear that the judgments made to prevent threats and accidents felt at the scene and each person's best efforts were consumed and misunderstood in completely different ways.
Many people worried about my left hand, but it has recovered. A smaller-than-expected scar remained, and because I already have a large scar on my right hand, it somehow feels familiar. Fortunately, Seung-yong contacted me and promised to cover the treatment. I will receive proper treatment going forward.
This incident prompted me to look deeply at myself. I had spent a long time trying not to be hated by others, and I realized I had come to hate myself. As a result, I fell into a victim mentality, thinking I was someone who is hated, and I avoided many challenges and even SNS. I will take this opportunity to steadily overcome those difficulties.
I will still be lacking, but I will work really hard. And I will try to live more honestly communicating and facing others in my own way. I am truly grateful to everyone who worried about and supported me.
[Photo] Wavve 'The Game of Blood X'
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