'Assassination', solidifies No. 1 despite controversy... surpasses 2.41 million viewers

Box office run continues in its third week of releaseThe movie 'Assassins' (or 'Assassination') maintained its top box office spot by drawing approximately 520,000 viewers during the holiday period from the 3rd to the 5th. The cumulative audience count is about 2.41 million. /Hive Media Corp[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] Despite much discussion, the movie 'Assassins' (Director Huh Jin-ho) has maintained its number one position at the box office.According to the Integrated Computer Network for Cinema Tickets on the 6th, 'Assassins' ranked first in the domestic box office, with over 520,000 viewers during the three-day holiday period from the 3rd to the 5th. As of 7 AM that morning, the cumulative audience count reached approximately 2.41 million.Released on the 23rd of last month, 'Assassins' continues its box office success into its third week. According to the production company Hive Media Corp, it is not only number one in overall seat sales but has also maintained the number one spot in Korean movie pre-sale rates for 22 consecutive days since before its release.'Assassins' tells the story of investigating the suspicions and masterminds behind the assassination of the First Lady on August 15, 1974, which shocked South Korea. The cast includes Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho.Although it began its box office run immediately upon release, some viewers who watched the movie raised suspicions of historical distortion regarding scenes that suggest the possibility of former President Park Chung-hee's side or the Korean Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the incident, and it became the center of various controversies, including allegations of Chinese capital investment.As the controversy intensified, the production company canceled scheduled stage greetings from the 3rd to the 5th, attendance at the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on the 6th, and outdoor stage greetings on the 7th. The production company explained that this decision was made after careful consideration to protect those involved in the film and to consider the impact on audiences and theater staff who would have visited the venues.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]