Megabox apologizes for “Assassin(s)” bullet-mark ticket, will discard remaining copies
Version 2: The latest reporting adds Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's criticism of the merchandise, the Sept 23 to Oct 6 giveaway window, the social media post that triggered the backlash and a far-right rally outside an actor's home, alongside more outlets carrying Megabox's apology.
In short
Megabox apologized over an original ticket made for the film “Assassin(s)” and said it will discard all remaining copies. The ticket carried an image recalling the 1974 ceremony at which First Lady Yuk Young-soo was shot, with a transparent overlay that revealed bullet marks. The company said the ticket was produced by staff who had not seen the film in advance, and that it will set up an internal review process for future merchandise tied to historical events.
Read the full story 2 min read
Megabox apologized on Oct 4 over an original ticket produced for the film “Assassin(s)” and said it would discard all remaining copies, according to the company's statement as reported by several outlets including Yonhap and Chosun Ilbo. The company said it sincerely apologized to people who felt discomfort and to those who suffered pain at the time of the incident. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 10 ]
The ticket carried an image recalling the Aug 15, 1974 ceremony at which First Lady Yuk Young-soo was shot, and overlaying a transparent plate on it revealed bullet marks over the podium, seats and flag, Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo reported. Criticism came from political figures: Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party called the item “immoral goods” and demanded that all copies be discarded and that Megabox apologize, while Kim Tae-kyu of the same party and Lee Ki-in, chairman of the Reform Party's emergency committee, also criticized it, according to Maeil Business. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
Lee Ki-in posted a photo of the ticket on social media on Oct 2, saying the design made it appear that audiences completed the shooting scene with their own hands, Hankook Ilbo reported. The same report said Megabox had given the ticket free, on a first-come basis, to membership customers who watched the film between Sept 23, its release date, and Oct 6. [ 8 ]
Megabox said its original tickets are free merchandise for audiences and that production is carried out in consultation with the film's distributor and producer. It said the “Assassin(s)” ticket was made under a tight schedule by staff who had not seen the film in advance, using only limited images provided under that consultation, and that it had failed to weigh the gravity of the historical tragedy and the horrific event, Yonhap and other outlets reported. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
The company said the ticket was mostly taken on opening day and that remaining copies would not be used as customer gifts but destroyed in full. It added that it would set up an internal process to verify the social and ethical impact of historical events or figures when producing future original tickets, and would be more careful in all external activities including merchandise. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
“Assassin(s)”, released on Sept 23, is based on the 1974 shooting of Yuk Young-soo and had already drawn controversy over alleged historical distortion, Maeil Business and Hankook Ilbo reported. CBS NoCut News reported that film organisations including the Korean Film Producers Association called for an end to personal attacks, and that the far-right New Freedom Union held a rally on the afternoon of Oct 4 in front of a house in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, identified as actor Yoo Hae-jin's home. Korea Economic Daily reported that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon criticized the merchandise as “vulgar commercialism”. [ 4 , 5 , 8 , 9 ]
Why it matters
The dispute pushed a mainstream cinema chain to promise internal vetting of merchandise tied to historical events and figures, which could change how Korean exhibitors handle politically sensitive material. It also adds to the controversy already surrounding “Assassin(s)”, which had been accused of distorting history, and to protests that film organisations have warned against, making the film's reception a continuing political as well as cultural issue.
Key facts
- Megabox apologized on Oct 4 and said all remaining copies of the “Assassin(s)” original ticket would be discarded. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- The ticket carried an image recalling the 1974 ceremony at which First Lady Yuk Young-soo was shot; overlaying a transparent plate revealed bullet marks over the podium, seats and flag. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- Megabox said the ticket was made under a tight schedule by staff who had not seen the film in advance, using only limited images provided in consultation with the distributor and producer. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- The ticket was given free on a first-come basis to membership customers who watched the film between Sept 23, its release date, and Oct 6. [ 8 ]
- Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party called the item “immoral goods” and demanded that all copies be discarded and that Megabox apologize; Kim Tae-kyu of the same party and Lee Ki-in, Reform Party emergency committee chairman, also criticized it. [ 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon criticized the merchandise as “vulgar commercialism”. [ 5 ]
- Megabox said it will create an internal process to verify the social and ethical impact of historical events or figures when producing future original tickets. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- “Assassin(s)”, released on Sept 23, is based on the 1974 shooting of Yuk Young-soo and had already drawn controversy over alleged historical distortion. [ 4 , 8 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Megabox apologized and said all remaining copies of the “Assassin(s)” original ticket would be discarded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- The apology was issued on Oct 4. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- The ticket used an image recalling the 1974 ceremony at which Yuk Young-soo was shot, with a transparent overlay revealing bullet marks. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- Megabox said the ticket was produced under a tight schedule without staff having seen the film, using limited images provided in consultation with the distributor and producer. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- Megabox said the remaining tickets would not be given to customers and would be destroyed in full, and that it would create an internal process to vet historical events and figures for future original tickets. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party called the item “immoral goods” and demanded full disposal and an apology; Kim Tae-kyu of the same party and Lee Ki-in of the Reform Party also criticized it. [ 4 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- How many original tickets were produced and how many remain to be discarded The company says the tickets were mostly taken on opening day but gives no quantities.
- Whether the film's distributor or production company approved the bullet-mark design Megabox says such tickets are made in consultation with the distributor and producer, but no statement from either appears in the coverage.
- Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's criticism of the merchandise as “vulgar commercialism” Reported by a single outlet in a summary line, without a date, venue or direct quote.
- The far-right New Freedom Union's rally in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and the film organisations' call to stop personal attacks Both are reported by one outlet only and do not appear in the other documents.
- Whether the earlier dispute over the film's portrayal of history led to any action beyond the merchandise The documents describe criticism and a rally but report no other outcome.
- When exactly on Oct 4 the apology was posted The documents give the date but not a time for the company's statement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- “Assassin(s)” is released on Sept 23; Megabox gives the original ticket free, first-come, to membership customers who watch the film, a giveaway that runs to Oct 6. [ 4 , 8 , 9 ]
- Reform Party emergency committee chairman Lee Ki-in posts a photo of the ticket on social media, saying that overlaying the transparent plate puts bullet marks over the flag, the podium and a figure who appears to be Yuk Young-soo. [ 8 ]
- The New Freedom Union holds a protest rally in the afternoon in front of a house in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, identified as actor Yoo Hae-jin's home. [ 9 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports Megabox's apology and its plan to discard all remaining tickets. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business publishes the company's full statement, the political criticism and its follow-up measures. [ 4 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's criticism of the merchandise. [ 5 ]
- CBS NoCut News reports the film industry's calls to stop personal attacks and the far-right rally. [ 9 ]
- Yonhap reports the apology, the ticket's design and the full disposal of remaining copies. [ 10 ]