'Assassin(s)' Cancels All Busan Events... Democratic Party Says, "It Has Escalated into Threats Against Individuals"

[Financial News]  The Busan preview screening and Busan International Film Festival events for the film 'Assassin(s)' were canceled one after another, prompting the Democratic Party to express regret over threats and pressure directed at the actors and production crew.
Shin Hyun-young, a Democratic Party spokesperson, said in a written briefing on the morning of the 2nd, "The cancellation of the 'Assassin(s)' preview screening scheduled in Busan is an unfortunate outcome," adding, "We strongly regret that the situation has escalated into threats against individuals, including the actors and production crew."
Shin cited a planned protest outside an actor's home and critical comments directed at actors attending the preview screening as examples of political conflict. She said, "The pressure to hold a protest outside an actor's home and the critical comments directed at actors who attended the preview screening reflect the serious political conflict in South Korea." She continued, "The suppression of free expression in the arts and culture through political pressure, as well as actions that infringe on the rights of creators and audiences, must not occur in an era of government based on popular sovereignty."
Earlier, Choi Min-hee, a senior Democratic Party council member, also criticized political attacks on the film. Choi said, "Please view films as films and do not pour cold water on the budding revival of Korean cinema by launching unnecessary political attacks."
The Busan International Film Festival said on its official social media account that, at the production company's request, the cast's attendance at the opening ceremony and outdoor stage greeting for 'Assassin(s)' had been canceled. Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min Ho had originally been scheduled to attend the opening ceremony on the 6th, while director Hur Jin-ho, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min Ho were scheduled to appear at the outdoor stage greeting on the 7th. The festival said, "We respect the production company's wishes, which take into consideration the safety of audiences and guests and the smooth running of the events." The previous day, Lee Min Ho's Actors House event was also canceled due to "unavoidable circumstances."
The Busan Film Commission had also canceled the free public screening of 'Assassin(s)' scheduled for the 1st. The commission said, "After comprehensively reviewing the recent circumstances surrounding the film and the various opinions of citizens, we have been forced to cancel the screening," adding, "This does not constitute a judgment on or endorsement of the film's content or any particular position surrounding it."
There have also been moves targeting the actor personally. A conservative group released part of an outdoor assembly notification submitted to Seongbuk Police Station on the 1st, announcing that it would hold a month-long protest outside the home of lead actor Yoo Hae-jin.
'Assassin(s)' is based on the 1974 shooting of Yuk Young-soo. As the film explores theories about the forces behind the incident, criticism that it distorts history has continued, particularly among figures from the People Power Party.
In response to the controversy, the production team said, "Inspired by the historical event that occurred in 1974, this is a fictional film reconstructed by adding cinematic imagination to various records written about the incident at the time," adding, "It was not produced with a specific political purpose." The Korean Association of Film Planning Producers also issued a statement on the 1st, saying that while freedom to evaluate and criticize the film is necessary, excessive criticism directed at individual creators—including the production company, director, actors, and staff—must not continue because unverified information has spread or simply because they participated in the film.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter