Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok says politics should not blame film's actors
In short
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said in a Facebook post on Oct. 5 that “history criticism is the job of records and verification, and film criticism is the job of reviewers and audiences,” criticising conservatives who have targeted the cast of the film “Assassin(s)”. Korea Economic Daily reported that the People Power Party plans to ask the Singapore International Film Festival to withdraw the film as its opening selection. Kim also welcomed President Lee Jae-myung's three core social policies on housing, jobs and finance for ordinary people.
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Kim Min-seok, the leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, said on Oct. 5 that politics should not go as far as blaming actors in the controversy over a film about the shooting of Yuk Young-soo, and that the place for politics to fight is people's livelihoods. In a Facebook post, Kim said “history criticism is the job of records and verification, and film criticism is the job of reviewers and audiences,” according to Yonhap and Asia Economy. [ 1 , 3 ]
Kim said “respect for the bereaved family, respect for creative work and testimony about dictatorship are all valuable values,” adding that “the film belongs to filmmakers, the evaluation to audiences, and the place for politics to enter is people's livelihoods.” Asia Economy reported the remarks were aimed at recent criticism from some conservatives that targeted not only the film's content but also its cast. [ 1 , 3 ]
Korea Economic Daily reported that the People Power Party plans to send a letter in the names of all its lawmakers to the Singapore International Film Festival asking it to withdraw the film “Assassin(s)” as its opening selection, after lawmaker Joo Jin-woo had said he would send such a letter in his own name. The same outlet reported that the conservative groups Shinjayu Yeondae and Bellado held a protest outside the home of the film's lead actor, Yoo Hae-jin, on Oct. 4, calling for a public apology, and that the film passed 2 million admissions 11 days after its release. [ 4 ]
Kim also welcomed President Lee Jae-myung's plan to push three core social policies on housing, jobs and finance for ordinary people. He said realising “a dignified life for all citizens through a war on polarisation and inequality” is the Democratic Party's reason for existing, and that the party would follow through on the government's plan to supply 1.19 million public homes, on youth jobs, and on easing the debt burden that high interest rates in a global upcycle place on small businesses and vulnerable groups. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
A ruling-party leader publicly siding with the film against conservative campaigns moves a dispute over a historical drama into the centre of party politics. Kim tied his remarks to the president's social policy agenda, framing livelihoods rather than cultural fights as the government's battleground. The documents give no indication of consequences beyond South Korea's domestic debate.
Key facts
- Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, made the remarks in a Facebook post on Oct. 5. [ 1 , 3 ]
- His post addressed controversy over historical distortion in the film “Assassin(s)”, which deals with the shooting of Yuk Young-soo. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim said “history criticism is the job of records and verification, and film criticism is the job of reviewers and audiences,” and asked whether politics should go as far as blaming actors. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim welcomed President Lee Jae-myung's three core social policies on housing, jobs and finance for ordinary people, saying the party exists to secure a dignified life for all through a war on polarisation and inequality. [ 1 , 3 ]
- He said the party would follow up the government's plan to supply 1.19 million public homes, youth jobs, and relief from debt burdens that high interest rates place on small businesses and vulnerable groups. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reported the People Power Party would send a letter in the names of all its lawmakers asking the Singapore International Film Festival to withdraw the film as its opening selection. [ 4 ]
- Conservative groups Shinjayu Yeondae and Bellado held a protest outside actor Yoo Hae-jin's home on Oct. 4 demanding a public apology, according to Korea Economic Daily. [ 4 ]
- The film passed 2 million admissions 11 days after release, Korea Economic Daily reported. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Min-seok said in a Facebook post on Oct. 5 that history criticism is the job of records and verification while film criticism is the job of reviewers and audiences. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim said politics should not go as far as blaming actors and named respect for the bereaved family, respect for creative work and testimony about dictatorship as important values. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim welcomed President Lee Jae-myung's push for three core social policies covering housing, jobs and finance for ordinary people. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the People Power Party's letter to the Singapore International Film Festival was actually sent, and how the festival responded. Reported only by Korea Economic Daily, which said the letter was to be sent in the names of all the party's lawmakers.
- The Oct. 4 protest outside actor Yoo Hae-jin's home and the film's 2 million admissions figure. Both appear only in the Korea Economic Daily report; no other document carries them.
- Whether the film itself distorts history. The documents describe a controversy over historical distortion but do not establish the film's accuracy; Yonhap quotes Kim saying history criticism belongs to records and verification.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes Kim Min-seok's Facebook remarks that history criticism belongs to records and verification and film criticism to reviewers and audiences, and that politics should not blame actors. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy reports the same remarks, noting they target recent criticism from some conservatives of both the film's content and its cast. [ 3 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports the People Power Party's plan to send a letter in all its lawmakers' names to the Singapore International Film Festival, the Oct. 4 protest outside actor Yoo Hae-jin's home and the film's 2 million admissions. [ 4 ]