[Edaily Reporter Lee Youn-jung ] Megabox has issued an official apology regarding the controversy over the “bullet hole tickets” for the movie *The Assassin(s)*. The company has decided to dispose of all remaining merchandise and to strengthen the verification process for the production of merchandise featuring historical events or figures in the future.

On the 4th, Megabox posted an apology on its website regarding the “Assassin(s)” merchandise issue, stating, “We failed to fully appreciate the gravity and weight of historical tragedies and horrific events,” and added, “We sincerely apologize to those who felt uncomfortable and to those who suffered during the events.”

The merchandise at the center of the controversy is the “original ticket” that Megabox distributed free of charge to moviegoers. They were designed by overlaying a transparent panel featuring bullet hole patterns onto an image reminiscent of the Liberation Day ceremony venue on August 15, 1974. When the two pieces were stacked, the bullet holes aligned with the podium where President Park Chung-hee stood and the seat where First Lady Yuk Young-soo was seated at the time, leading to criticism that it was inappropriate to exploit the actual shooting incident for promotional merchandise.

Regarding the circumstances of its production, Megabox explained, “Due to a tight schedule, the staff members were unable to preview the film and produced the tickets using only the limited images provided by the distributor and production company following consultation with them.” They added, “We intended to highlight the nature and content of the film by utilizing scenes from the movie and poster images, but we failed to fully appreciate the gravity and weight of the historical tragedy and the horrific incident.”

The company continued, “Most of the ‘Assassin(s)’ original tickets were sold out on the day of the film’s release, and we plan to dispose of the remaining stock entirely rather than use them as customer giveaways,” adding, “We will establish internal processes to ensure that the social and ethical implications of historical events or figures are thoroughly vetted when producing original tickets in the future.”

“The Assassin(s)” is a film inspired by the 1974 assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo, which investigates the suspicions and the forces behind the incident. As the film added cinematic imagination to the actual events—including content that implied the possible involvement of government authorities at the time—criticism arose, particularly from political circles and some civic groups, alleging historical distortion. The production team has maintained that the film was not created with the intention of drawing specific historical conclusions or distorting established facts.

Despite the controversy, the film continues to draw audiences. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network for movie ticket sales on the 4th, “The Assassin(s)” had recorded a cumulative audience of 2,045,499 as of the previous day, surpassing the 2 million mark just 11 days after its release.