[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] The film “The Assassin(s),” based on the shooting of the late First Lady Yuk Young-soo, has reclaimed the top spot at the box office despite protests outside the lead actor’s home and opposition to its screening at international film festivals. While the controversy over historical distortion has spilled over into issues regarding the actor’s personal life and the production company’s investment, it has not deterred audiences from attending. Both the freedom to criticize the film and the audience’s right to choose what to watch appear to be put to the test.
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network on the 5th, “The Assassin(s)” drew 188,468 viewers the previous day, claiming the top spot on the daily box office chart. Its cumulative audience stands at 2,333,963. Although it temporarily lost the top spot due to the controversy over historical distortion following its release on the 23rd of last month, it has now reclaimed the lead.

◇The Backlash Spills Beyond the Movie Theater
The controversy is intensifying even more off-screen. On the 4th, conservative groups New Freedom Alliance and Bellado held a rally near Yoo Hae-jin’s home, demanding that the film’s screenings be halted and that the production team and actors issue an apology. They also warned that they would demand the companies for which Yoo Hae-jin models cancel their advertising contracts. The protests against the film’s content have thus expanded to target the actor’s private life and livelihood.
The People Power Party has stated its intention to put the brakes on overseas screenings as well. It plans to send a letter signed by all its lawmakers to the Singapore International Film Festival, requesting that “Assassin(s)” be withdrawn as the opening film. Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk plans to visit the birthplace of the late First Lady Yuk Young-soo in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, on the afternoon of the 5th to lay flowers and hold a press conference. The debate over historical interpretation that began domestically has now spread to the issue of film selection at international film festivals.
The production company’s financial management has also become a point of contention. On the 4th, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo raised allegations that HYBE Media Corp. used investment funds from a state-run bank to construct a new office building near Hongdae. The production company denied the allegations, stating that the investment was received in July of this year and that major construction work had already been completed earlier this year. They explained that the mortgage was collateral intended to ensure the stability of the investment funds.

◇Box Office Success and Historical Judgment Are Separate Issues
Amid this backlash, voices are also calling for the protection of creative freedom. Park Ji-won, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, encouraged people to watch *The Assassin(s)*, noting that it is a work of fiction, not a documentary recording actual events. Film industry organizations, such as the Filmmakers’ Solidarity and the Korean Film Directors’ Guild, also expressed concern that criticism of the work should not lead to threats against the creators themselves.
This controversy raises the question of how far a film dealing with historical figures can stretch its imagination. Given that actual events and the bereaved families exist, creators also have a responsibility to respond to explanations and criticism. At the same time, actions such as visiting an actor’s home to demand an apology or attempting to prevent screenings are fundamentally different in nature from criticism that evaluates a work’s factual accuracy and artistic merit. This is because the focus of the debate is shifting from the content itself to pressure on those involved.
The film’s return to the top of the box office shows that audience demand remains strong even amid this backlash. However, it is difficult to interpret this as the audience’s final verdict on the controversy over historical distortion. Various factors influence a viewer’s choice to see a movie, such as interest in the actors and director, or curiosity to experience the film firsthand. Based solely on box office rankings, one cannot conclude that the controversy served as free publicity or that audiences agree with the film’s historical interpretation.
A film industry insider, who requested anonymity, stated, “The more intense the controversy surrounding *The Assassin(s)* becomes, the more necessary it is to scrutinize and critique the film.” They added, “What is clear is that calls for the film’s removal from theaters do not align with actual audience choices. Audiences must be given the opportunity to see the film for themselves and make their own judgments.”