Film 'Assassin(s)' sparks controversy over historical distortion; police launch investigation

[Financial News] Police have launched a full-scale investigation into controversy over historical distortion in the film 'Assassin(s).'
According to police on the 13th, the Seoul Jongno Police Station summoned former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Lee Jong-bae for questioning at around 1 p.m. that day. Lee had filed a complaint accusing four people—the film's planning and production lead, Kim Won-guk, CEO of TPS Company; director Hur Jin-ho; and screenwriters Kwon Ki-jun and Lee Ji-min—of defamation by stating false facts.
The former council member filed a complaint against the production team with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 29th of last month. He argued that the film, by successively placing scenes that raise suspicions of intervention by powerful institutions at the time, led viewers to believe that the late former President Park Chung-hee was behind the shooting of First Lady Yuk Young-soo.
Before being questioned that day, the former council member also urged a thorough investigation of the production team, saying that investigations and trials had established the shooting of First Lady Yuk as a crime committed solely by Moon Se-gwang, a second-generation Korean resident of Japan. His position was that freedom of artistic expression cannot extend to acts that defame others.
The film 'Assassin(s)' is based on the shooting of First Lady Yuk Young-soo at a Liberation Day ceremony in Seoul on August 15, 1974. Investigative authorities at the time announced that Moon had tried and failed to assassinate former President Park, and that First Lady Yuk was struck by a bullet and killed in the process. The authorities concluded that North Korea and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan were involved in Moon's crime.
Against the backdrop of those investigation findings, the film traces the source of the bullet that struck First Lady Yuk and the forces behind the incident. In particular, criticism that it evokes suspicion that former President Park was behind the incident has fueled ongoing controversy over whether the film distorts historical facts.
As the controversy spread, the production team said in a statement, “As the film deals with historical events and real people, various interpretations and criticisms may arise, and we fully respect those views.” It added, “Since the film was not made with any particular political purpose or intent, we ask that you view it solely as a work of creative expression.” The team further stated, “The film was not made to deny or distort established facts.”
[email protected] Seo Ji-yun Reporter