Yoo Hae Jin's 'The Assassin(s)' faces backlash amid historical controversy

South Korean historical thriller 'The Assassin(s)' has achieved significant box office success, drawing in over 2 million moviegoers. However, its commercial triumph has been marred by a growing controversy surrounding its depiction of a highly sensitive historical event.

Directed by Hur Jin Ho, the film stars a prominent cast. This includes Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, Lee Min Ho, and Jung Woo Sung, and explores the 1974 assassination attempt on then-President Park Chung Hee and the shooting of first lady Yuk Young Soo.

According to the film's director, Hur Jin Ho, the notion that 'The Assassin(s)' directly implies that Park Chung Hee ordered the shooting is "illogical". Instead, the film employs some of the unanswered questions surrounding the original investigation to construct a fictional narrative.

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This approach has sparked debate among historians and critics, with some arguing that the film's portrayal is factually inaccurate and insensitive.

A close aide to former President Park Geun Hye, lawmaker Yoo Young Ha, has denounced the film as an "immoral act that hurts the bereaved and betrays history". The People Power Party (PPP) has also drafted a letter to the Singapore International Film Festival. Requesting that 'The Assassin(s)' be removed as its opening film.

Conservative netizens have been flooding the film's rating and review pages, engaging in what has been described as "rating terrorism". Naver has reported detecting unusual automated traffic and abusive activity on the pages. Protests have been organized outside Yoo Hae Jin's home, and celebrities who support the film have been targeted online.

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Key players in South Korea'It's film industry have weighed in on the controversy. With 19 prominent organizations lending their support to the debate.

These groups, encompassing various sectors such as production, directing, and distribution, have expressed concerns that the criticism has escalated beyond reasonable critique, crossing into a realm of personal attack. The collective stance highlights the severity of the issue. With industry insiders arguing that the line between criticism and defamation has been irreparably blurred.

Industry insiders have also emphasized the importance of respecting the historical record and avoiding the exploitation of sensitive topics for the sake of entertainment. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the film's creators will respond to the mounting criticism and how the controversy will impact the film's legacy.