Far-right groups’ rally outside Yoo Hae-jin’s home escalates to personal attacks and threats against actors’ safety··· ‘Assassin(s)’ dragged into the political arena - 경향신문

This article was translated by an AI tool. Feedback Here.

Far-right groups and YouTubers hold a rally on the 4th in front of actor Yoo Hae-jin’s home in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Choi Seo-eun

The controversy surrounding the film <Assassin(s)> has gone beyond legitimate criticism of the work and is spreading to attacks on individuals involved in the industry, including the cast, staff, and critics. As politicians join this trend, there are concerns that the debate over the film is expanding into a partisan confrontation and that the conflict is spilling beyond the work itself.

The far-right group New Freedom Solidarity and conservative YouTubers held a rally on the 4th in front of actor Yoo Hae-jin’s home in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, urging the production team and cast to apologize. Kim Sang-jin, head of New Freedom Solidarity, claimed, “<Assassin(s)> is a piece of political propaganda copied from North Korean agitprop.” He said, “We define the filmmakers and actors as accomplices in a political act that distorts modern and contemporary history and will denounce them,” adding, “From now on, we will regard companies that use entertainers who make political statements or engage in political acts as political accomplices and will carry out boycotts.”

About 30 to 40 people, including far-right YouTubers, gathered at the rally. Some hurled crude insults at Yoo through microphones. Participants also shouted at him to “appear” in films they said they would make targeting President Lee Jae Myung, former President Roh Moo-hyun, and the May 18 Democratization Movement.

Beyond Yoo, criticism is being directed at lead actors Lee Min-ho and Ryu Hye-young, other actors who posted endorsement comments for the film, and critics who reviewed it. In some quarters, people have even exposed the personal information or family relationships of those involved in the project, and acts that threaten their personal safety and livelihoods have occurred.

Production company Hive Media Corp. canceled film-related events and stage greetings for safety reasons. Yoo and Lee decided not to attend the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival, and a talk program at the festival in which Lee was to appear was also canceled. Boycott campaigns have spread to products advertised by the cast. Far-right groups have even filed rally notifications for in front of the headquarters of a fast-food company for which Yoo serves as a model and in front of the company CEO’s home.

Political circles are using this as a tool of partisan strife, further amplifying the controversy. Some politicians are calling for a halt to screenings and for legal punishment, invoking conspiracy theories surrounding the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun and even making personal attacks on the cast.

People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo referred to Yoo on social media as a “North Korea-type” and claimed that Chinese capital was invested in the film. People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook posted mock movie posters on social media titled “The Truth of Owl Rock” and “Those Who Push,” aimed at the death of former President Roh.

Observers warn that the issue has become overly politicized, moving beyond rational evaluation of the work and legitimate criticism to fuel social conflict as a subject of partisan confrontation. Cultural critic Ha Jae-geun said, “At present, the dispute surrounding the film is becoming an overly political fight and turning into partisan warfare. The escalation of attacks such as cast-bashing and product boycotts, and intensifying confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, is irrational,” adding, “Historians should step in to examine the content academically to determine whether the suspicions are reasonable or mere conspiracy theories, and only then should debate or confrontation proceed.”

Film critic Yoon Sung-eun said, “Even though this film uses imagination based on material that has been covered by programs like <Unanswered Questions> and <Kkokomu>, the excessive reaction to a single film constitutes a threat to filmmakers and the film industry,” and, “The film has already become a fight between political camps and a tool of populism for conservative politicians.” He added, “To attack actors, the production company, and investors in this way is a different issue from the dispute over historical distortion,” and, “It effectively prevents works set in that era from being made and can even be seen as an infringement of actors’ rights.”

The film community is also voicing concern about the situation. On the 2nd, the Korea Film Producers’ Guild issued a statement titled ‘Stop attacking film people and talk about the film,’ saying, “We express concern that the current dispute has expanded beyond criticism of the work into threats against those involved in making the film, including the production company, director, actors, and staff.” On the 1st, the Korea Film Producers Association likewise stated, “We express concern about a situation in which, merely for having participated in a work, excessive criticism is directed at individual creators such as the production company, director, actors, and staff.”

On this day, Megabox issued an apology regarding the ‘Original Ticket’ merchandise. Megabox said, “We sincerely apologize to those who felt discomfort and to those who suffered pain at the time of the incident. We are sorry,” and, “We sought to highlight the character and content of the film by using stills and poster images, but we failed to fully appreciate the gravity and weight of a historical tragedy and a horrific event.” The Original Ticket consisted of a format in which bullet marks printed on a transparent plate would, when overlaid, line up over a figure that appears to be First Lady Yuk Young-soo.

Amid the growing controversy surrounding director Hur Jin-ho’s film ‘Assassin(s)’, which deals with the shooting of the late First Lady Yuk Young-soo, a citizen purchases tickets at a theater in Seoul on the 28th. Moon Jae-won