[Kang Il-hong's Today Entertainment] Why the Rally in Front of Yoo Hae-jin's House? The Controversy Surrounding 'Assassins'

Singer Haru, Fan Concert D-7...Behind-the-Scenes Work for Overseas Expansion 'Gaining Momentum'October 2nd Friday, Yoo Hae-jin / G-Dragon / BTS / Haru / RESCENE[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] A historical controversy surrounding a film has finally spilled over into a protest in front of an actor's home. As the controversy over historical distortion in the movie 'Assassins' intensifies, the conservative group Liberty Alliance announced that they have filed for a protest in front of the home of lead actor Yoo Hae-jin.The protest, titled 'Condemnation of Yoo Hae-jin, Condemnation of the Production Company of Assassins,' was scheduled to take place from October 3rd to 30th. The group even posted photos believed to be of the actor's residence on social media, raising concerns about privacy invasion and personal safety.So, how did we get to this point? The starting point of the controversy lies in the historical event the film depicts.'Assassins' is based on the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo in 1974. While the authorities at the time concluded it was the act of Mun Se-gwang, the film explores another possibility by combining the lingering questions from historical records with cinematic imagination. In particular, it hints at the possibility of government agency involvement, using the difference in gunshots and bullets at the time as a clue.This led some to strongly criticize it as historical distortion, even resulting in a police complaint against the production team. Conversely, the production team maintains that the film is a work that reconstructs the ambiguities of the actual event in a cinematic format. This raises an important question.If the film's historical interpretation is deemed problematic, who should be held responsible? Criticism of the director, production team, script, and the film's content is entirely possible. If the film is based on a real historical event, public verification and discussion of the facts and the way they are presented are also necessary.However, going to the actor's private residence simply because they appeared in the film is a completely different matter. Actors are fundamentally people who portray given roles. It is important to distinguish between actor Yoo Hae-jin directly creating the film's historical interpretation or making a specific historical claim, and him portraying a character in the film.Furthermore, revealing the protest filing and exposing the suspected location of the residence can lead to privacy and safety issues, separate from freedom of expression. In actual news reports, the photos were presented with personal information obscured.Ultimately, this situation demonstrates another side effect of historical debates escalating into political factional conflicts. If you believe the film's historical interpretation is incorrect, you should criticize the film. You can scrutinize the director's work, question the basis of the script, and compare it with historical records.However, if the process involves attacking individual actors and going to their homes, historical discussion disappears, leaving only personal attacks. If the claim is to remember history correctly, a more objective and fact-based discussion is needed.Criticism of the film and attacks on individual actors must be distinguished. What is needed now is not to amplify the voices of factions, but to calmly examine what is historical fact and what is cinematic imagination.Named Best Dresser of All Time by Complex... Reader Vote Brings a Major UpsetThe list of '25 Best K-Pop Dressers of All Time' selected by the American pop culture media outlet Complex has been released. The selection was based on overall style throughout their careers, diversity, trendsetting influence, and consistency, not just their activities this year.The coveted first place was taken by BIGBANG's G-Dragon. Complex introduced G-Dragon as the first K-pop artist to represent Chanel, personally scouted by Karl Lagerfeld, and highly praised their ongoing connection with the fashion industry.Second place went to Black Pink JENNIE, third place to BTS RM, fourth place to ​Seo TaiJi, and fifth place to Black Pink Lisa. Following them were BIGBANG's TAEYANG in sixth place, ​LEE HYO RI in seventh, BTS's J-HOPE in eighth, Hyukoh's Oh Hyuk in ninth, and 2NE1's CL in tenth place.What was particularly noteworthy was the inclusion of bands and producers in a list dominated by idols. Complex described Oh Hyuk's style of matching vintage items, workwear, and natural suits with Converse high-tops, calling him a figure who shows that the Korean music scene cannot be explained solely by K-pop.BTS RM was introduced as an individual who showcased a "quiet luxury" style with soft tailoring and calm colors, while J-HOPE was described as a star with a distinct personality in fashion and streetwear. However, the twist came with the reader vote.Complex allowed readers to re-rank the 25 individuals themselves. As of the 1st, a staggering 270,296 votes were cast by 1,322 people re-ranking the list. As a result, G-Dragon maintained first place, consistent with the editorial ranking.However, there were significant changes from second place onwards. RM moved up to second, and J-HOPE rose a remarkable five spots to third, while Jennie dropped from second to eighth. Notably, Jennie was classified as the most overrated individual, with 82% of respondents stating that her ranking was "too high."Conversely, BIGBANG's T.O.P rose from 12th to 10th, being named the most underrated individual, and CL also climbed four spots to sixth place. This survey showcased the global cultural influence of K-pop stars beyond their music, extending to fashion, style, and beyond.While individual preferences may vary, the ultimate fashion icon of K-pop history was undoubtedly the globally recognized star currently receiving the most attention, G-Dragon.Global K-pop group BTS is heating up Bogota, Colombia, the first stop on their South American tour. Notably, the city of Bogota has officially designated BTS as 'Honorary Guests,' turning the entire city into a welcoming reception beyond just a concert. /Big Hit MusicBuzzing from the Start of South American Tour... Bogota Flight Bookings Surge by 46.6%Global K-pop group BTS is igniting Bogota, Colombia, the first stop on their South American tour. Notably, the city of Bogota has officially designated BTS as 'Honorary Guests,' turning the entire city into a welcoming reception beyond just a concert.On September 30th, the city of Bogota, Colombia, officially designated BTS as 'Honorary Guests' through Decree 413. This marks the second such designation, following La Plata City in Argentina.Bogota bestowed this honor in recognition of BTS's role in promoting Korean music and culture worldwide since their debut in 2013 and their significant influence on younger generations. Carlos Fernando Galán, the Mayor of Bogota, also attached special significance to BTS's visit.The city of Bogota anticipates that BTS's visit will serve as an opportunity to internationally promote their city as a hub for culture, creative industries, and large-scale global events.The economic impact is also substantial. The Bogota tourism authority estimates that the BTS concerts, held on October 2nd and 3rd, will generate over 99 billion pesos (approximately 40 billion Korean won) in spending by attendees on accommodation, food and beverages, transportation, and shopping.The BTS effect has also been confirmed in air travel demand. From September 30th to October 4th, around the concert dates, flight bookings to Bogota increased by 46.6% compared to the same period last year.Domestic flight bookings rose by 59.3%, and international flight bookings increased by 39.5%. Notably, 18.4% of concert tickets were sold to buyers outside of Colombia, indicating that BTS performances are leading to actual city visits by international fans.The city of Bogota is also welcoming BTS and their fans by illuminating the entire city in purple. The City Hall and the iconic Torre Colpatria landmark are lit in purple, and additional public transportation routes will be operated after the concert to facilitate attendees' return journeys.Bogota is the first stop on BTS's South American tour. Following this, BTS will continue their tour in Lima, Peru, followed by Santiago, Chile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and São Paulo, Brazil. The official tour schedule includes five South American cities.The Bogota case demonstrates how BTS's global influence extends beyond music to impact the entire city's economy, including aviation, tourism, accommodation, dining, transportation, and shopping. A single concert is driving urban tourism demand and turning fans from around the world into actual visitors.From 'K-pop Stars' to officially welcomed global cultural icons by cities, attention is focused on the new records BTS's South American tour will set for urban tourism and economy in each city.First Fan Concert, First Meeting with Fans Ahead of Overseas Officials' Visits to KoreaSinger Haru, who is about to hold her first solo fan concert under her own name since her debut, is seeing growing anticipation from fans as the Seoul concert is just a week away. However, the reason to pay attention to this first fan concert is not just the performance itself.Recently, it has been reported that Haru's overseas expansion efforts, including to Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Japan, are gradually accelerating.Singer Haru will hold her debut solo fan concert, '2026 Haru's First Fan Concert - Today, Haru: The First Story to Tell,' at 5 PM on October 10th at the Daehan Hall of Sejong University in Seoul. A week later, on October 17th, she will meet fans again at the Bexco Auditorium in Busan.This concert is significant as it is the first solo fan concert Haru is holding under her own name since her debut. It is expected to showcase a different side of Haru that has not been seen on broadcast stages so far.In addition to live performances of her representative songs, there will be behind-the-scenes talks about her trainee days, debut process, and stories from backstage. Furthermore, a special remake song, not yet officially released as a digital single, is scheduled to be performed for the first time. It is said to be an immortal classic that everyone will recognize upon hearing.Most importantly, this song is considered the highlight of the concert as it will be the first time it is performed for the fans. Haru herself expressed her desire for this concert, stating, "I've always greeted fans with just my songs on stage, but this time, I wanted to tell my story from beginning to end."As this is the first official occasion to directly share her story with fans, it is expected to be a special time for Haru. However, another aspect of Haru's recent activities has caught attention: her overseas expansion efforts.According to industry sources, following the visit of officials from a Taiwanese agency to Korea, a key investor from a Japanese entertainment company also visited Korea, sparking interest in Haru's potential overseas activities.While specific contracts or overseas activity schedules have not yet been officially announced, it is reported that contacts are ongoing from officials targeting the markets of Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Japan. This means that while preparing for her first fan concert, behind-the-scenes work for overseas markets is also gaining speed.Haru's first Seoul fan concert, just a week away, featuring songs, stories, and a new song revealed for the first time to fans, is drawing attention as to whether it will be a new starting point for Haru.And after meeting fans in Seoul and Busan, it remains to be seen whether this stage will extend beyond domestic fans to international fans as well. Singer Haru, embarking on an expansion of her activities starting with her debut fan concert, will reveal the first scene on October 10th at Sejong University's Daehan Hall.As RESCENE has been gaining immense popularity recently, the agency's fan communication methods have come under scrutiny. The agency, The Muse Entertainment, faced backlash after posting an announcement for birthday support applications for January 11th on their official channels on September 28th. /The Muse EntertainmentOnly 99,000 Won In-Ears... Fans Outraged by Agency Announcement, Facing BacklashAs RESCENE has been gaining immense popularity recently, the agency's fan communication methods have come under scrutiny. The controversy began with an announcement regarding birthday support for RESCENE member LIV.Libby's birthday is October 11th. The agency, The Muse Entertainment, posted an announcement for birthday support applications on their official channels on September 28th.However, a phrase caught the fans' attention: "For items requiring prior coordination with the company, such as custom in-ears, please inquire via email."Custom in-ears, or custom-made in-ear monitors, are personal monitoring devices that singers use to hear their own voice and backing tracks through earphones while singing. While the announcement itself could be seen as simply guiding fans on the necessary procedures for sending gifts,some fans felt discomfort for a different reason. They questioned why the agency would not provide custom in-ears, essential equipment for singers performing on stage, as a basic support and instead listed them as items fans could gift.In particular, some fans pointed out that they had observed members using tape to secure ill-fitting in-ears on stage, further escalating the controversy.Adding to this, the claim that the in-ears in question are products worth approximately 99,000 won led to criticism among fans, with some saying, "They don't provide the necessary support for the artists, yet they are subtly shifting the burden onto the fans."Of course, it cannot be definitively stated that this announcement was an actual request for fans to purchase in-ears. There are counterarguments that it was merely an example of support. However, the crucial point is why fans felt uncomfortable upon seeing such an announcement.RESCENE has been receiving considerable attention recently due to the resurgence of their song 'LOVE ATTACK' and the members' individual activities. Furthermore, the members' recognition is also increasing, with Jene topping the rookie idol individual brand reputation rankings for October, followed by Won and Libby in second and third place, respectively.As the artists' value grows, isn't it time for the agency to reflect on what basic support they should be providing before relying on fan gifts and support?The support received from fans and the basic support that a company should provide to its artists must be clearly distinguished. Instead of dismissing this controversy as mere 'fan overreaction,' it is hoped that the agency will take this as an opportunity to review their artist support and fan communication methods.eel@tf.co.kr