On August 15, 1974, gunfire erupted during a Liberation Day ceremony at the National Theater in Jangchung-dong, Seoul, resulting in the death of Yuk Young-soo.
Now, more than half a century later, the incident has resurfaced in public discourse, largely due to the release of director Hur Jin-ho's film 'Assassins' on September 23.
The film's portrayal of characters investigating the incident has sparked controversy over potential historical distortion, with the ruling People Power Party discussing legal action and calling for the director's appearance at a parliamentary audit. The Park Chung-hee Memorial Foundation has demanded a halt to screenings. The film's production team has countered that they do not present any specific individuals as masterminds behind the incident or claim their fictional scenarios as historical facts.
It is essential to distinguish between the film and historical facts. At the time, law enforcement announced the results of their investigation into the crimes committed by Mun Se-gwang and his accomplices. While various questions and interpretations have arisen surrounding the incident, the suspicions mentioned in the film should not be accepted as confirmed historical facts. The production team clarifies that these are hypotheses posed by characters as they pursue the case, a critical distinction for audiences to recognize.
However, films cannot be judged by the same standards as history textbooks. Adding fiction and imagination to real events is a long-standing practice in film and drama. Works based on modern history often imagine dialogues and character psychology that are not recorded. If such creativity is stifled, the space for artistic expression based on historical themes will diminish.
Nonetheless, there is a significant responsibility that comes with using historical facts as a basis for imagination. Depicting unrecorded dialogues or character motivations differs in weight from introducing new hypotheses about the nature or causality of events. Given the real individuals and victims involved in modern historical tragedies, the need for caution is even greater. Audiences may confuse scenes seen in theaters with actual history. When unverified suspicions are conveyed through powerful imagery, the line between fiction and fact can blur, a concern that should not be overlooked.
The production team should not dismiss the current controversy by merely stating that 'the film is a work of fiction.' They must adequately explain the historical context and the extent of their artistic imagination. While there is freedom to address historical facts, it is also the creator's responsibility to help audiences discern the boundary between fact and fiction.
It is hasty for lawmakers to prioritize punishment or cessation of screenings in response to the controversy. While feature films are not exempt from legal accountability, such judgments should be made based on specific expressions and the overall context of the work. If lawmakers attempt to define the correctness of historical interpretation and dictate the boundaries of creative expression, it could lead to further disputes over freedom of expression.
Consistency in principles is also necessary within the political sphere. If freedom of expression is narrowly applied to works dealing with historical figures aligned with one's own views while broadly applied to opposing perspectives, it will lack credibility. The same standards should apply to creative freedom and historical responsibility, regardless of the era or figures involved. If a work is deemed problematic, it should be countered with specific facts and records. The production team should respond earnestly to such criticisms.
A single film cannot replace the conclusions of history. Lawmakers should not declare the interpretation of a film as the definitive answer to historical questions. The appropriate response to debates surrounding historical facts is to provide more accurate information, while interpretations of creative works should be met with rigorous critique.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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