'Assassin(s)' Controversy Draws Cho Kuk Into the Fray: "Far-Right Culture War; Yoo Hae-jin Has a Righteous-Army Look"

[Financial News] Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Policy Research Institute of the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), said regarding the controversy over historical distortion surrounding the film 'Assassin(s)', "I do not ridicule Yuk Young-soo's death" and "whether it's defamation or anything else, there is absolutely no legal responsibility for me to bear."
In a Facebook post on the 4th, Cho said, "Yuk Young-soo's death after being shot on August 15, 1974, was a tragedy," adding, "Apart from the atrocities of Park Chung Hee's dictatorship, I once again express my condolences for Yuk Young-soo's death."
Regarding the film, Cho said, "Even though I knew all about the circumstances surrounding the incident, the authorities' investigation results and the allegations that had been raised, I found it thrilling." He added, "The 131 minutes flew by thanks to the gripping storyline, which skillfully combined fact and fiction, and the performances by Korea's top actors."
He particularly said, "I liked that it vividly portrayed the suspicions surrounding the shooting, but what I especially liked was that it vividly depicted the barbaric and violent press censorship imposed by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) throughout the era of military dictatorship, as well as the journalists' struggle against it." He argued, "Park Chung Hee's Yushin dictatorship was not a 'smart dictatorship.'"
Regarding criticism of the film from political circles and elsewhere, he said, "The allegations raised in this film are a compilation of those previously raised by various media outlets, including MBC and SBS, yet they remained silent at the time and are acting like this now." He added, "The far-right's culture war is posing a serious threat to freedom of culture and the arts, which has made me deeply concerned."
Cho cited People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo's description of actor Yoo Hae-jin's appearance as having a 'North Korean look' and reports that some groups had announced a rally outside Yoo's home. He claimed, "An organized campaign is underway online, including the use of all kinds of vile profanity and coordinated attacks through user ratings."
He also proposed releasing materials held by state agencies concerning the shooting of Yuk Young-soo. Cho said, "I also wondered whether it might be a good idea to release all related materials held by state agencies, including the bullet projectile from the shooting that the KCIA at the time, now the National Intelligence Service (NIS), is known to have collected and stored, and put the controversy to rest through public verification."
Cho said, "I hope director Hur Jin-ho, actor Yoo Hae-jin and the rest of the cast stay strong," adding, "National actor Yoo Hae-jin has a 'righteous-army look.'" He continued, "I should have a 'second viewing' with the citizens of Pyeongtaek."

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter