Actor's Schedule Canceled Due to 'Assassin(s)' Controversy... Film Industry "Attacks on Creators Must Stop"

BIFF Events and Stage Greetings Canceled Amid Historical Distortion ControversyProduction Company Cites Concerns for Audience and Attendee Safety; PGK Also Expresses WorryA trailer for "Assassination(s)" is shown on a large screen at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th of last month, as controversy surrounding the film, which deals with the assassination of Madam Yuk Young-soo, escalates. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Lee Seon-young] The controversy over historical distortion surrounding the film "Assassination(s)" is leading to the cancellation of film festival events and stage greetings. The production company cited the safety of the audience and attendees, as well as the protection of actors and crew, as reasons for the series of cancellations, while film industry organizations appealed to stop personal attacks on creators that go beyond criticism of the work.According to the film industry on the 3rd, the production company of "Assassination(s)," Hive Media Corp., canceled all scheduled stage greetings for the second week of its release, which were set to take place from the 3rd to the 5th. Director Huh Jin-ho and actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, Lee Min-ho, and Choi Yu-ri were scheduled to attend the stage greetings.Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) events have also been canceled. The production company announced on its official social media (SNS) on the 2nd that it would cancel its participation in the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival and an outdoor stage greeting event scheduled for the 7th. Lead actors Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho were scheduled to attend the opening ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center on the 6th.The Busan International Film Festival also announced on the 1st that the "Actor's House: Lee Min-ho" event, scheduled for the 7th, had been canceled due to unavoidable circumstances.Regarding the background of the schedule cancellation, the production company stated, "We are concerned that the situation surrounding the film is placing an excessive burden on the actors and crew, extending beyond the scope of the work itself." They added, "This decision was made after careful consideration to protect those involved in the film and to take into account the impact on the audience and theater staff who would visit the venue.""Assassination(s)" is a film based on the 1974 assassination of Madam Yuk Young-soo. As the film includes scenes that suggest the possibility that then-President Park Chung-hee's side or the Korean Central Intelligence Agency may have planned the incident, some political circles, including the People Power Party, raised criticisms of historical distortion.The controversy has escalated beyond criticism of the film itself to attacks on the actors and crew. Some netizens reportedly left protest comments on advertisements featuring the actors, and there were even claims of plans to protest in front of an actor's home.The film industry also expressed concern. The Producers Guild of Korea (PGK) issued a statement on the same day, stating that "the healthy debate that arises from empathy and criticism of a film is the value of a film's existence," but also pointed out that the current debate has expanded beyond criticism of the work to threats against those involved in its production, including the production company, director, actors, and staff.The PGK urged an end to the dissemination of unconfirmed facts, defamation, threats, and the discussion of private lives, stating, "The act of revealing an individual's personal information and family relationships, or pressuring the normal activities of related individuals, companies, and organizations, simply because they participated in a work, goes beyond the scope of legitimate criticism."The Korean Film Producers Association also issued a statement on the 1st, expressing concern over the excessive criticism directed at individual creators, including the production company, director, actors, and staff.seonyeong@tf.co.kr