SEOUL — The controversy surrounding South Korean film The Assassin(s) has moved beyond theaters and into the personal space of one of its leading actors, with a civic group announcing plans for daily rallies outside actor Yoo Hae-jin’s home.
The New Freedom Solidarity said it filed plans with police to hold rallies outside a residence in northern Seoul reportedly associated with Yoo, beginning Oct. 3 and continuing through the end of October. The group listed 20 participants and a daily start time of 4:30 p.m.
The group says the demonstrations are intended to protest what it describes as historical inaccuracies in The Assassin(s) and to urge Yoo to appear in films representing conservative or right-leaning perspectives.
Why Is the Film Causing Controversy?
The Assassin(s) centers on the 1974 assassination of former first lady Yuk Young-soo, wife of former President Park Chung-hee.
The movie has faced criticism from conservative groups and politicians over its treatment of the historical incident. Critics argue that parts of the film suggest possibilities beyond the officially established account of the shooting.
The controversy has intensified since the film’s release, with political figures and civic groups publicly challenging its historical interpretation.
However, those criticisms remain claims about the film’s interpretation, rather than a court finding that the movie is historically inaccurate.
Filmmakers Push Back
The production team has rejected the characterization that the movie was designed to rewrite history.
It has said the film was not created to establish a new historical conclusion or deny and distort established facts. The producers have also maintained that the movie does not identify a particular person as being behind the incident or present its dramatic hypotheses as established historical fact.
That distinction has become central to the debate: critics are challenging the film’s dramatic interpretation, while the production team argues that it should be understood as a work of fiction rather than a new historical determination.
Protest Planned for Nearly a Month
According to the reported police filing, the demonstrations are scheduled to take place daily from Oct. 3 through Oct. 30.
The group has also indicated plans to use broadcast vehicles and sound equipment during the rallies.
The development has broadened the controversy from a dispute over a movie’s historical interpretation to a debate involving the treatment of individual actors.
Reports have also described concern over the publication of photographs that could help identify the actor’s residence, although the exact location should not be disclosed.
Korean Film Industry Raises Concern
The dispute has also prompted concern within the film industry about the treatment of filmmakers and actors caught in controversies surrounding their work.
The Korean Film Producers Association said criticism and differing interpretations of cultural works are part of public debate, but expressed concern about unverified information and excessive attacks directed at individual creators because of their involvement in a production.
As the rallies approach, The Assassin(s) remains at the center of a heated debate over historical interpretation, artistic expression and the boundaries of criticism directed at performers.
For Yoo Hae-jin, however, the controversy surrounding the film is now reaching much closer to home.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
