Film 'Assassins' has surpassed 1.63 million viewers just six days after its release, continuing its box office success. However, alongside its commercial triumph, the film is embroiled in a controversy over historical distortion that has sparked discussions in political and social circles.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, 'Assassins' drew over 1.4 million viewers during the Chuseok holiday from September 24 to 27, securing the top spot at the box office. By its fourth day of release on September 26, the film had already surpassed 1 million viewers, and by September 27, the cumulative audience reached approximately 1.566 million. As of 7 a.m. on September 29, the total audience exceeded 1.63 million. The film maintains the highest reservation rate for Korean films in its second week of release.
Directed by Heo Jin-ho, known for films like 'Spring Days' and 'The Last Princess,' 'Assassins' is a mystery film that investigates the suspicions and background of the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo on August 15, 1974.
The incident, which serves as the film's backdrop, was concluded by authorities at the time to involve Mun Se-gwang, a Korean resident in Japan, who allegedly acted on orders from North Korea and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) to assassinate former President Park Chung-hee, resulting in the death of Yuk. Mun was executed on December 20 of that year.
While the film starts with this historical event, it incorporates fictional characters and scenarios to develop a new narrative. This has led to scenes suggesting the possibility that individuals associated with former President Park or the Central Intelligence Agency may have planned the incident. Although the film does not definitively identify any individuals as being behind the event, it presents alternative hypotheses that diverge from the official investigation, igniting a debate over the boundary between historical fact and cinematic fiction.
Political criticism has also emerged. On September 28, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, claimed on his social media that the film depicts former President Park as being behind the incident, criticizing the filmmakers for using artistic freedom as a defense. Fellow party member Joo Jin-woo argued that the film's historical distortion cannot be justified through artistic imagination, while Yoo Young-ha also condemned it as political propaganda that distorts historical facts.
In response to the growing controversy, the production team issued an official statement on September 28. They stated, "'Assassins' is a dramatization based on the historical event of 1974, reconstructed with cinematic imagination from various records related to the incident. We conducted extensive research on available records, books, and documentaries, combining real events and characters with fictional elements to create a cohesive story."
They emphasized, "This film was not made to establish new historical conclusions or to deny or distort existing facts. At no point does the film designate any specific individual as being behind the incident, nor does it present its hypotheses and dramatic settings as historical facts."
The production team acknowledged that, as a work based on historical events and real individuals, it may invite various interpretations and criticisms. However, they urged viewers to see the film solely as a product of creative expression, stating, "We ask that you view it as a work of art rather than a film made for specific political purposes."
In an interview, Director Heo Jin-ho remarked, "This story was not one that could reach a conclusion from the outset. There were points that raised questions within the materials and facts, but we could not draw conclusions from them. This was a project started with those limitations." He added, "The reason for telling this story is that I wanted to explore the individual narratives of those who lived passionately during that era."
Regarding the use of actual archival footage in the film, he acknowledged, "It is true that we incorporated elements based on documentaries and academic papers, but we also added cinematic imagination, so I believe it is a matter for viewers to judge after watching." He explained, "I cannot define it as 'this is the answer.' We have presented both actual historical materials and the varying perspectives on those materials." He further expressed, "I hope viewers will consider which parts are factual and which parts are imaginative while reflecting on that era together."
Heo also shared the challenges of creating a narrative based on historical facts, stating, "When a director creates a story based on historical facts, there are bound to be many concerns. One cannot create a story solely from imagination. I sought to find as much as possible that could serve as a basis for imagination. I do not believe this is merely a conspiracy theory created entirely from imagination. I hope viewers will examine the actual events more closely and make their own judgments. This made the process more challenging and time-consuming."
Despite its box office success, online reviews are sharply divided. The Naver user rating stands at 2.4 out of 10, contrasting significantly with the actual viewer rating of 8.6. The CGV Golden Egg Index, which reflects actual audience evaluations, is at 92%. While actual viewers praised the performances of actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho, as well as the film's suspenseful direction and narrative, criticisms on Naver focus on the film's handling of historical events and its underlying hypotheses.
The essence of this controversy lies in the tension between creative freedom in filmmaking and the historical responsibility that accompanies it. Supporters argue that the hypotheses raised by characters in the film should be viewed separately from established historical conclusions. Critics, however, warn that dramatizing significant hypotheses surrounding the deaths of real individuals without sufficient evidence can influence audience perceptions of history and cause distress to the families of the deceased.
While 'Assassins' topped the box office during the Chuseok holiday, it continues to attract audiences in its second week of release. The debate over the intersection of historical fact and fiction remains ongoing.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, 'Assassins' drew over 1.4 million viewers during the Chuseok holiday from September 24 to 27, securing the top spot at the box office. By its fourth day of release on September 26, the film had already surpassed 1 million viewers, and by September 27, the cumulative audience reached approximately 1.566 million. As of 7 a.m. on September 29, the total audience exceeded 1.63 million. The film maintains the highest reservation rate for Korean films in its second week of release.
Directed by Heo Jin-ho, known for films like 'Spring Days' and 'The Last Princess,' 'Assassins' is a mystery film that investigates the suspicions and background of the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo on August 15, 1974.
The incident, which serves as the film's backdrop, was concluded by authorities at the time to involve Mun Se-gwang, a Korean resident in Japan, who allegedly acted on orders from North Korea and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) to assassinate former President Park Chung-hee, resulting in the death of Yuk. Mun was executed on December 20 of that year.
While the film starts with this historical event, it incorporates fictional characters and scenarios to develop a new narrative. This has led to scenes suggesting the possibility that individuals associated with former President Park or the Central Intelligence Agency may have planned the incident. Although the film does not definitively identify any individuals as being behind the event, it presents alternative hypotheses that diverge from the official investigation, igniting a debate over the boundary between historical fact and cinematic fiction.
Political criticism has also emerged. On September 28, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, claimed on his social media that the film depicts former President Park as being behind the incident, criticizing the filmmakers for using artistic freedom as a defense. Fellow party member Joo Jin-woo argued that the film's historical distortion cannot be justified through artistic imagination, while Yoo Young-ha also condemned it as political propaganda that distorts historical facts.
In response to the growing controversy, the production team issued an official statement on September 28. They stated, "'Assassins' is a dramatization based on the historical event of 1974, reconstructed with cinematic imagination from various records related to the incident. We conducted extensive research on available records, books, and documentaries, combining real events and characters with fictional elements to create a cohesive story."
They emphasized, "This film was not made to establish new historical conclusions or to deny or distort existing facts. At no point does the film designate any specific individual as being behind the incident, nor does it present its hypotheses and dramatic settings as historical facts."
The production team acknowledged that, as a work based on historical events and real individuals, it may invite various interpretations and criticisms. However, they urged viewers to see the film solely as a product of creative expression, stating, "We ask that you view it as a work of art rather than a film made for specific political purposes."
In an interview, Director Heo Jin-ho remarked, "This story was not one that could reach a conclusion from the outset. There were points that raised questions within the materials and facts, but we could not draw conclusions from them. This was a project started with those limitations." He added, "The reason for telling this story is that I wanted to explore the individual narratives of those who lived passionately during that era."
Regarding the use of actual archival footage in the film, he acknowledged, "It is true that we incorporated elements based on documentaries and academic papers, but we also added cinematic imagination, so I believe it is a matter for viewers to judge after watching." He explained, "I cannot define it as 'this is the answer.' We have presented both actual historical materials and the varying perspectives on those materials." He further expressed, "I hope viewers will consider which parts are factual and which parts are imaginative while reflecting on that era together."
Heo also shared the challenges of creating a narrative based on historical facts, stating, "When a director creates a story based on historical facts, there are bound to be many concerns. One cannot create a story solely from imagination. I sought to find as much as possible that could serve as a basis for imagination. I do not believe this is merely a conspiracy theory created entirely from imagination. I hope viewers will examine the actual events more closely and make their own judgments. This made the process more challenging and time-consuming."
Despite its box office success, online reviews are sharply divided. The Naver user rating stands at 2.4 out of 10, contrasting significantly with the actual viewer rating of 8.6. The CGV Golden Egg Index, which reflects actual audience evaluations, is at 92%. While actual viewers praised the performances of actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho, as well as the film's suspenseful direction and narrative, criticisms on Naver focus on the film's handling of historical events and its underlying hypotheses.
The essence of this controversy lies in the tension between creative freedom in filmmaking and the historical responsibility that accompanies it. Supporters argue that the hypotheses raised by characters in the film should be viewed separately from established historical conclusions. Critics, however, warn that dramatizing significant hypotheses surrounding the deaths of real individuals without sufficient evidence can influence audience perceptions of history and cause distress to the families of the deceased.
While 'Assassins' topped the box office during the Chuseok holiday, it continues to attract audiences in its second week of release. The debate over the intersection of historical fact and fiction remains ongoing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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