The Korean Film Producers Association (KFP) has expressed deep concern over excessive criticism and the spread of unverified information regarding the film 'Assassins,' amid ongoing debates about historical distortion and political backlash.
On October 1, the KFP stated, "Recently, various opinions and discussions have emerged regarding the content, expression, and production process of the film 'Assassins.' It is natural and necessary for differing opinions to arise based on the audience's perspectives and interpretations of works based on historical events or real figures."
However, the KFP emphasized, "Regardless of evaluations of the work, we are concerned about the spread of unverified information related to the production process or participating creators, and the excessive criticism directed at individual creators such as the production company, director, actors, and staff solely based on their involvement in the project."
They added, "Dramatic films are created by combining dramatic structure and cinematic imagination based on relevant records and materials. It is preferable for evaluations of the work's expression and interpretation to focus on the work itself."
'Assassins' is a thriller that investigates the assassination attempt on the First Lady on August 15, 1974, and has faced criticism from political circles for its portrayal of a third-party power's involvement, which some claim distorts history and fabricates conspiracy theories. Additionally, various speculations regarding the production and investment entities have recently surfaced online.
In this context, the KFP clarified, "The production team has stated that the film is a dramatic reconstruction that adds cinematic imagination to various records and materials based on historical events, and they have publicly refuted some of the recent claims regarding production and investment as inaccurate."
The KFP made it clear that their statement does not support any specific political interpretation or claim. They pointed out, "Discussions surrounding a single work leading to attacks on individual creators or the spread of unverified information is not conducive to a healthy production environment for Korean cinema."
Finally, the KFP stated, "For Korean cinema to continue to freely explore diverse themes and stories, it is essential to ensure that audiences can freely evaluate and critique while also allowing creators to work without undue external pressure. We hope for calm and constructive discussions in the realm of works and creation."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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