'Assassination' Cancels Stage Greetings Following BIFF, Citing "Cast Protection"

Controversy over historical distortion continues... A decision for everyone's safety"Assassins" cancels official schedules due to ongoing controversy. Pictured are actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho (from left) posing at the press preview and press conference for the film "Assassins" held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on September 8. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Official schedules for "Assassins," embroiled in historical distortion controversy, are being canceled one after another.Hive Media Corp., the production company, announced on the 2nd through its official social media (SNS) that "after careful review and discussion of various situations surrounding 'Assassins' (Director Hur Jin-ho), we have decided not to proceed with the stage greetings scheduled from the 3rd to the 5th."The production company explained that this was a carefully considered decision to protect those involved in the film and to consider the impact on the audience and theater staff who would visit the venue.The production company stated, "While we respect the various opinions and interest shown in the work, we are concerned that the situation surrounding the film is placing an excessive burden on the actors and production crew, even outside of the work itself."Earlier, the production company also announced the cancellation of "Assassins'" official schedule at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on the same day.They said, "We have canceled our attendance at the opening ceremony and the outdoor stage greeting scheduled for the 7th. After carefully reviewing the current situation related to the film, we have made this decision for everyone's safety and the smooth progress of the event.""Assassins," released on screen on August 23rd, is a mystery thriller that traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the assassination of the First Lady that shocked South Korea on August 15, 1974, adding cinematic imagination to the remaining records and unanswered questions to this day. The film is directed by Hur Jin-ho, who has explored characters and events with delicate detail through films such as "The Last Princess" and "Christmas in August.""Assassins" had a strong start, attracting 134,460 viewers on its opening day and ranking first at the box office. It seemed poised for an unrivaled box office run, surpassing 1 million viewers in just four days.However, some viewers who watched the film raised suspicions of historical distortion regarding scenes that suggested the possibility of former President Park Chung-hee's side or the Korean Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the incident. The film also became the center of various controversies, with allegations of Chinese capital involvement.In response, the production company Hive Media Corp. stated, "This is a fictional film reconstructed based on various records related to the historical event that occurred in 1974, with added cinematic imagination. The film does not designate any specific individual as the mastermind behind the incident. It also does not present hypotheses and dramatic settings within the film as historical facts."However, the controversy surrounding "Assassins" has extended beyond the film itself, with Lee Min-ho canceling his schedule at the Actors' House at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, and protests being announced in front of Yoo Hae-jin's home.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]