'Assassination' Reclaims Box Office Top Spot... Surpasses 3 Million Viewers

Japanese animation 'Chikawa' ranks 2nd, 'Tazza: The High Rollers' ranks 3rdActors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho (from left) star in the film 'Assassination(s)', which reclaimed the No. 1 spot at the box office in just one day. The photo shows them posing at the press preview and conference for the film 'Assassination(s)' held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on September 8. /Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] The film 'Assassination(s)', embroiled in various controversies, has regained its top position at the box office.According to the Korean Film Council's Integrated Network of Film Admission Statistics on the 13th, 'Assassination(s)' (Director Huh Jin-ho) attracted 30,675 viewers the previous day, ranking No. 1 at the box office. The cumulative audience count is 3,023,218.Released on August 23, 'Assassination(s)' is a story that traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the assassination of the First Lady that shocked South Korea on August 15, 1974. It is based on the assassination of Madam Yuk Young-soo during the 1974 Liberation Day ceremony, a subject that has never been explored in Korean cinema.'Assassination(s)' dominated the box office during the Chuseok holiday and was on a successful run, but it faced unexpected issues. Some raised concerns about historical distortion, pointing to scenes suggesting the possibility of former President Park Chung-hee's associates or the Korean Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the incident, and claims of Chinese capital involvement led to it becoming the center of various controversies.In response, the production company issued an official statement to distance itself from the allegations, but the controversy surrounding the film escalated beyond the screen, with protests occurring in front of the homes of actors involved in the production. Ultimately, 'Assassination(s)' canceled its official schedule at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, including stage greetings.Despite this turbulent atmosphere, 'Assassination(s)' continues to draw audiences and has reclaimed the No. 1 spot at the box office, surpassing 'The First Slam Dunk' (Director Oikawa Kei, hereinafter referred to as 'Chikawa') in just one day. Attention is now focused on its future box office performance.'Chikawa' ranked second, captivating 30,094 viewers. The cumulative audience count is 1,311,577.'Chikawa' (also known as 'Monjaku') is a manga serialized by Japanese illustrator Nagano. It depicts the joyful, poignant, and sometimes rough daily lives of its unique characters.The theatrical film 'Chikawa', based on the highly popular 2023 episode 'Siren Arc', is an animation that depicts Chikawa and his friends embarking on a mysterious extermination mission to uncover the secrets hidden on an unknown island after being tempted by the promise of 100 times the reward. Nagano himself participated in the script and supervision, faithfully capturing the charm and emotions of the original work.'Tazza: The High Rollers' (Director Choi Gook-hee) ranked 3rd with 18,997 viewers, 'Oppenheimer' (Director Christopher Nolan) ranked 4th with 9,475 viewers, and 'Monster' (Director Hirokazu Kore-eda) ranked 5th with 4,611 viewers.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]