Seoul police chief vows strict action over threats to “Assassins” actors
Version 3: New reports name Hive Media Corp CEO Kim Won-guk among four production figures in the defamation complaint and say no complaint has been filed by Park Chung-hee’s family, while political figures from both camps continued to comment on the film.
In short
Seoul police chief Go Beom-seok said on October 6 that harm or threats against actors of “Assassins” will be handled strictly under the law and that criminal allegations will be met with a strict response if confirmed; he said no request has come from lead actor Yoo Hae-jin or his agency but patrols or personal protection could be added. The briefing followed an October 4 rally outside Yoo’s home that police say produced no confirmed illegal acts, and a September 29 defamation complaint by former Seoul city council member Lee Jong-bae against director Hur Jin-ho and production figures, assigned to Jongno Police Station. The film, based on the 1974 shooting that killed First Lady Yuk Young-soo, topped its second weekend with 412,012 admissions from October 2 to 4 for cumulative admissions of 2,233,963.
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Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Go Beom-seok said at a regular briefing on October 6 that police will strictly handle under the law any harm or threats against actors of the film “Assassins”, and that criminal allegations against the actors would be met with a strict response if confirmed. He said no request had come so far from lead actor Yoo Hae-jin or his agency, and that police are preparing to reinforce patrols or provide personal protection if safety problems are judged likely, according to Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun, NoCut News and Hankook Ilbo. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The remarks follow an October 4 rally in front of Yoo Hae-jin’s home by members of a conservative group, where participants demanded a halt to screenings and apologies from the production team and actors, according to Yonhap. Go said no illegal acts had been confirmed in connection with the rally, and Kyunghyang Shinmun quoted him saying the gathering was notified and held as notified and that police would manage rallies strictly under the law. NoCut News, citing an unofficial police estimate, reported that about 50 people gathered in Seongbuk-gu and named the group as the New Freedom Union, while Yonhap reported further rallies on October 6: Hoguk Yeonhap Bangpaedan registered a rally in front of production company Hive Media Corp’s building to run until 6 pm, and the conservative group Bellado planned a rally from 2 pm in front of Gwanghwamun G Tower demanding that companies cancel Yoo Hae-jin’s advertising contracts. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
On September 29, former Seoul city council member Lee Jong-bae filed a complaint with Seoul police against director Hur Jin-ho, the production company head and the writer on charges of defamation by false statement, Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun and NoCut News reported. Police assigned the case to Jongno Police Station and plan to question the complainant according to procedure, the police chief said. Hankook Ilbo reported that the complaint names Hive Media Corp CEO Kim Won-guk and four production figures, and that Lee argued the plural title “Assassins” implied the existence of assassination subjects beyond Moon Se-gwang. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Hankook Ilbo also reported that no complaint had been received from former President Park Chung-hee’s son Park Ji-man or other bereaved family members. Because posthumous defamation requires a complaint from bereaved family or descendants to prosecute, police are unlikely to apply a posthumous defamation charge concerning the former president, the outlet reported. [ 7 ]
Culture minister Choi Hwi-young said the previous day that he had asked police and other authorities for safety measures for film staff and actors and for strict enforcement against threats and intimidation in front of their homes. NoCut News reported that he wrote on social media that evaluation of the film is free but that threatening creators is a destruction of democracy. [ 2 , 6 ]
The film deals with the August 15, 1974 shooting in which Moon Se-gwang, a second-generation Korean resident in Japan, fired at President Park Chung-hee and First Lady Yuk Young-soo was killed. The controversy has not dented its commercial performance: Newsis reported that “Assassins” topped the box office in its second weekend, drawing 412,012 admissions from October 2 to 4 for cumulative admissions of 2,233,963, according to the integrated cinema admissions network. [ 2 , 3 ]
Politicians from both main camps have weighed in, according to Korea Economic Daily. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk criticised the film as an attempt to deny the country’s founding, industrialisation and legitimacy, while Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said politics should not blame the actors, describing the film as a matter for the audience, the outlet reported. Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo described the film’s artistry as the best, and Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae said she watched it with trembling, according to the same outlet. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The episode tests how South Korean authorities weigh free expression against organised pressure on a film and its cast, after the culture minister publicly asked police to protect creators. It also pulls national politics into a commercial release: party leaders and a provincial governor have commented on the film while it leads the box office. Rallies calling on advertisers to drop the lead actor suggest the dispute may reach beyond cinemas.
Key facts
- Seoul police chief Go Beom-seok said at a regular briefing on October 6 that harm or threats against actors of “Assassins” would be dealt with strictly under the law, and that criminal allegations would be met with a strict response if confirmed. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Go said no request has yet come from lead actor Yoo Hae-jin or his agency, and that police are preparing to reinforce patrols or provide personal protection if safety problems are judged likely. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Police said a defamation complaint over the film has been assigned to Jongno Police Station, with the complainant to be questioned according to procedure. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Former Seoul city council member Lee Jong-bae filed the complaint on September 29 against director Hur Jin-ho, the production company head and the writer on charges of defamation by false statement. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Go said no illegal acts had been confirmed in connection with the October 4 rally outside Yoo Hae-jin’s home. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- NoCut News, citing an unofficial police estimate, reported that about 50 people gathered in Seongbuk-gu and named the group as the New Freedom Union. [ 6 ]
- Culture minister Choi Hwi-young said the previous day that he had asked police and other authorities for safety measures for film staff and actors and strict enforcement against threats at their homes. [ 2 , 6 ]
- The film topped its second weekend with 412,012 admissions from October 2 to 4, for cumulative admissions of 2,233,963, according to the integrated cinema admissions network. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Go Beom-seok said harm or threats against actors of “Assassins” would be strictly handled under the law. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Go Beom-seok said criminal allegations against the actors would be met with a strict response if confirmed. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Go Beom-seok said no request has come from Yoo Hae-jin or his agency, and that police are preparing patrol reinforcement or personal protection if safety problems are judged likely. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Police assigned the defamation complaint to Jongno Police Station and plan to question the complainant according to procedure. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Former Seoul city council member Lee Jong-bae filed a complaint on September 29 against director Hur Jin-ho, the production company head and the writer on false defamation charges. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Go Beom-seok said no illegal acts had been confirmed in connection with the October 4 rally in front of Yoo Hae-jin’s home. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Culture minister Choi Hwi-young said he asked police and other authorities for safety measures for film staff and actors and strict law enforcement against threats at their homes. [ 2 , 6 ]
- The film is based on the August 15, 1974 shooting in which Moon Se-gwang fired at President Park Chung-hee and First Lady Yuk Young-soo was killed. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether any illegal acts occurred in connection with the rallies Police said no illegal acts have been confirmed so far, leaving the question open pending investigation.
- The outcome of the defamation complaint against the director, production company head and writer The documents place the case at the complainant-questioning stage and report no findings or conclusions.
- Whether screenings will be stopped or advertising contracts cancelled as the rallies demand The demands are reported, but the documents give no decision or response from the production company, cinemas or advertisers.
- The size and organising group of the October 4 rally outside Yoo Hae-jin’s home Only NoCut News gives an unofficial police estimate of about 50 people and names the New Freedom Union; other documents do not give a figure or that name.
- Whether the conservative groups named in the different accounts are the same organisation Yonhap names Hoguk Yeonhap Bangpaedan and Bellado for October 6 events, while NoCut News names the New Freedom Union for October 4, and the documents do not link them.
- Whether the film distorts history as the complainant and conservative groups argue The claim comes from the complainant and the groups; the documents report no court or independent finding.
- Whether police will apply a posthumous defamation charge concerning former President Park Chung-hee Hankook Ilbo says it is unlikely because no complaint has been received from Park Ji-man or other bereaved family, but this is a single-source account and no final decision is reported.
- What specific criminal allegations against the actors are under review Go said allegations would be dealt with if confirmed, but the documents do not identify any charges or complainants against actors.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Former Seoul city council member Lee Jong-bae files a defamation complaint with Seoul police against director Hur Jin-ho, the production company head and the writer over the film. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Members of a conservative group hold a rally in front of lead actor Yoo Hae-jin’s home, demanding a halt to screenings and apologies from the production team and actors. [ 2 , 6 , 7 ]
- Culture minister Choi Hwi-young says on social media that he has asked police and other authorities for safety measures for film staff and actors and strict enforcement against threats at their homes. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Box-office data for October 2 to 4 show the film first for the weekend with 412,012 admissions and cumulative admissions of 2,233,963. [ 3 ]
- Seoul police chief Go Beom-seok briefs reporters at a regular meeting, saying threats against the film’s actors will be handled strictly and that the defamation complaint has been assigned to Jongno Police Station. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The conservative group Bellado begins a rally in front of Gwanghwamun G Tower demanding that companies cancel Yoo Hae-jin’s advertising contracts. [ 2 ]
- Hoguk Yeonhap Bangpaedan has reported a rally in front of production company Hive Media Corp’s building to run until this time. [ 2 ]