*This content was translated by AI.
The Korean Film Producers Association and the Korean Film Producers Guild have successively issued statements regarding the controversy surrounding the film “The Assassins,” expressing concern over the situation in which criticism of the work is escalating into personal attacks on the production team.
In a statement released on the 1st, the Korean Film Producers Association stated, “Recently, various opinions and discussions have continued regarding the content, expression, and production process of the film ‘The Assassins,'” adding that “it is a natural and necessary process for diverse evaluations and criticisms of films and cultural arts works to be freely conducted.”
In particular, it emphasized that in the case of works based on historical events or real people, different opinions may arise depending on the audience’s perspective and interpretation, and that such diverse voices should be respected.
However, the association stated, “Separate from evaluations of the work, we express concern about situations where unverified information regarding the production process or participating creators is spread, or where excessive criticism continues against individual creators such as the production company, director, actors, and staff solely because they participated in the work.”
It further explained, “A film is a cultural creation completed through long-term collaboration by numerous creators and production teams,” adding that “feature films dealing with actual events or historical materials are also created by combining dramatic composition and cinematic imagination based on related records and materials.”
It added, “The production team of ‘The Assassins’ has stated their position that the work is a feature film reconstructed by adding cinematic imagination to various records and materials using a historical event as a motif. They have also publicly stated that some recent claims regarding production and investment are contrary to the facts.”
The association drew a clear line, stating that judging specific historical interpretations or social claims, or supporting a particular stance, is not the intent of this statement.
It further stated, “It is undesirable for the healthy production environment of Korean cinema if discussions surrounding a single work go beyond the scope of evaluating the work and lead to attacks on individuals involved in film production, such as the production company, director, actors, and staff, or the spread of unverified information.”
Additionally, it noted, “For Korean films to continue to freely handle diverse materials and stories in the future, an environment is needed where audiences’ free evaluations and criticisms are guaranteed, while creators can also engage in creation without concerns about excessive external pressure,” urging for criticism based on facts and respect for creators.
The Korean Film Producers Guild (PGK) also issued a separate statement expressing similar concerns.
The guild stated, “Just as there are various interpretations of historical events, films based on historical events can also have diverse interpretations and it is natural for them to receive evaluations accordingly,” adding that “empathy and criticism toward films unfolding as healthy debates—this will be the existential value of film as art.”
However, it expressed serious concern, stating, “The current debate is spreading beyond criticism of the work into threats against those involved in film production, such as the production company, director, actors, and staff.”
The guild also emphasized, “We do not support either side’s position in the debate surrounding ‘The Assassins,’ nor do we seek to demand it from audiences.”
While stating, “Freedom of creation and expression is a precious value that we have all fought for over a long time, and criticism should also be respected as part of freedom of expression,” it added, “Actions such as exposing personal information and family relationships of individuals solely because they participated in the work, or pressuring the normal activities of related individuals, companies, and organizations, go beyond the scope of legitimate criticism and can never be justified.”
The Producers Guild requested that defamatory remarks, threats, discussions of private lives, and actions threatening personal safety and livelihoods against individual film participants cease, and asked for the spread of unverified facts to stop.
Finally, while stating, “Evaluations of films are clearly the domain of audiences,” it emphasized, “This must not become an attack that threatens creators and suppresses film production and screening.”
Both organizations voiced a united stance that evaluations of the work surrounding “The Assassins” should be respected, while emphasizing that the debate must not lead to defamation and threats against individual members of the production team or the spread of unverified information.
“The Assassins” is a film that traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the 1974 assassination attempt on First Lady Yuh Young-soo, using the event as a motif. Since its release on the 23rd of last month, controversy has continued as political circles and related organizations have raised criticism of historical distortion over some settings in the film.
The aftermath of the controversy spread to the cast actors. A representative of a conservative group announced that they had filed a report for a rally in front of lead actor Yoo Hae-jin’s residence, foreshadowing a strong response and fueling the controversy. Ultimately, after comprehensively reviewing the recent situation, the production company stated, “This decision was made after much deliberation, considering both the protection of those who participated in the work and the impact on audiences who will visit theaters and theater-related personnel,” and completely canceled its Busan International Film Festival stage greeting schedule.
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*This content was translated by AI.
