Minister Choi Hwi-young Calls for Police Action Against Threats to Film Cast

Choi Hwi-young, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has requested police protection and strict law enforcement regarding threats against the cast and crew of the film 'Assassins.'

On his social media, Choi stated, "Today, I strongly requested that the police and relevant authorities implement safety measures for film personnel and enforce the law against illegal acts such as threats and intimidation in front of their residences."

He emphasized, "If criticism of a film escalates to the point where protests occur in front of the homes of cast members, infringing on their personal lives and threatening their safety, this is absolutely unacceptable."

Choi also addressed calls for the film to be pulled from theaters, stating, "Demanding government intervention or administrative action simply because one dislikes the content of a work is a dangerous call to return to an era of 'prior censorship' prohibited by the Constitution." He added, "If there are defamation or legal issues with the work, these should be resolved through civil lawsuits or criminal proceedings after the film's release, seeking a fair judgment from the judiciary."

However, Choi noted that criticism and discussion regarding the historical interpretations or perspectives presented in the film are natural and healthy in a democratic society, asserting that criticism of the work itself is not problematic.

'Assassins,' which premiered on September 23, is based on the attempted assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1974 and the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo. The film includes scenes suggesting possible involvement from the Central Intelligence Agency based on the diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan at the time, leading to controversy over historical distortion. On October 4, members of a conservative group held a rally in front of lead actor Yoo Hae-jin's home, demanding the film's screening be halted and apologies from the production team and cast.

* This article has been translated by AI.