KDB, Industrial Bank of Korea: "No External Intervention in Investment in Film Assassin(s)"

The financial sector has come forward to explain the investment process for the film *Assassin(s)*. Its position is that the investment was based on the film's overall competitiveness, rather than an external request or intervention. 
According to industry sources on the 3rd, Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Industrial Bank of Korea said there had been no external request or intervention in the investment process for *Assassin(s)*.
Industrial Bank of Korea explained in a statement that it made the investment decision following an internal review by the responsible department, in line with its existing procedures. In the statement, it said, "The investment proceeded through an investment review by the responsible department, just as under existing procedures," and explained, "The final decision was made according to internal criteria after comprehensively reviewing all relevant factors, including the production company's production capabilities, the competitiveness of the director and cast, and commercial viability."
It added, "The allegation that the investment was decided through an external request or an irregular channel is untrue."
KDB also issued a separate statement, distancing itself from the matter by saying it had not directly participated in the film investment decision. KDB emphasized that it had not invested directly in the film, but had only made an indirect contribution to a fund, and that S, the fund manager, independently decided whether to make the actual investment.
KDB stressed, "Investment decisions on individual fund investments and their subsequent management are the fund manager's inherent responsibilities and must be carried out independently. We would like to make clear that Korea Development Bank cannot intervene in the investment decision-making process."
Earlier, Joo Jin-woo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, disclosed on the 30th of last month the investment details for *Assassin(s)* and its production company involving state-run banks and funds to which they had contributed. According to the data, a fund backed by KDB deployed KRW 400 million. TPS Company, the film's production company, was found to have received KRW 14.25 billion from a fund involving Industrial Bank of Korea and KRW 14 billion from a fund involving KDB.
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