Korean Directors Guild Defends 'Assassin(s)' Amidst Attacks

The Directors Guild of Korea (DGK) has publicly supported the filmmakers of "The Assassin(s)," Hur Jin-ho's thriller focusing on the 1974 assassination attempt on the first lady. The film has ignited political controversy, with some accusing it of distorting history, leading to a police complaint and parliamentary attention. The DGK stated that the hostility has escalated beyond film criticism to attacks on individuals' lives and livelihoods, asserting that creators should be able to start new projects even after facing controversy.

"The Assassin(s)" depicts a police inspector investigating the 1974 shooting of Yuk Young-soo, wife of then-President Park Chung-hee. While the official inquiry blamed Mun Se-gwang acting under Pyongyang's orders, the film's open ending has led detractors to suggest alternative culprits. Despite the backlash, the film has achieved significant box office success, passing 1 million admissions within four days and topping the charts for the Oct. 2-4 weekend, with over 2.23 million admissions to date. The controversy has also extended to rating sites and social media accounts of cast members and reviewers.

Legal actions have been initiated, with a former councilor filing a defamation complaint against the director and producers. Attempts were made to summon the director to testify in parliament, but these were blocked on grounds of creative freedom. The film's producers previously clarified that the movie presents hypotheses, not historical facts, and does not name a specific culprit. "The Assassin(s)" is set to open the 37th Singapore International Film Festival on Oct. 21.