Film guilds ask for healthy debate on 'The Assassin(s)' without targeting filmmakersMajor Korean filmmaking organizations have voiced deep concern over escalating personal attacks and safety threats targeting the cast and crew of "The Assassin(s)," calling for a rational dialogue that respects artistic freedom and protects creators from harassment. On Friday night, the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK) and the Cinematographers Guild of Korea (CGK) issued separate statements as political controversy surrounding the historical thriller crossed the line into physical threats against those involved in its production. "While historical events invite diverse interpretations, the current controversy has escalated beyond criticism of the work itself into direct threats against the production company, director, cast and crew," the PGK said. "Exposing the personal details and family relationships of individuals who participated in a project, or exerting pressure on their normal activities, goes far beyond legitimate criticism and can never be justified." The guild urged protesters to immediately refrain from making threats, defaming individuals and spreading unverified claims. The CG2d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
'Possible Love' asks if love can survive without understandingHow much understanding does love require? Must two people fully understand each other, look in the same direction and inhabit similar worlds for their relationship to endure? Or can remaining beside someone, even with parts of them that may never make sense, also be called love? Those questions linger long after watching director Lee Chang-dong's new film "Possible Love." The film begins with an encounter between two married couples from sharply different worlds. Ho-seok, played by Sul Kyung-gu, is a laid-off worker living with his wife Mi-ok, played by Jeon Do-yeon. Ye-ji, played by Cho Yeo-jeong, is a documentary filmmaker who wants to capture their lives on camera, while Zo In-sung plays her husband Sang-woo. As the couples grow closer, their desires and emotional voids gradually come to the surface. The film opens with an ominous commandment that reverberates throughout the film: "You shall not covet your neighbor's possessions." Modern life constantly invites people to look at what others have: a better home, more money, greater stability or perhaps a more desirable spouse. Few are e2d agoBy Hankookilbo
'The Assassin(s)' actors to skip BIFF events amid controversy over historical inaccuraciesActors who starred in "The Assassin(s)" will not attend events at the upcoming Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the film's distributor said Friday, amid allegations over historical distortion in the Korean film. The decision comes after some critics raised concerns that the historical film, which deals with the 1974 assassination attempt on then Korean President Park Chung-hee, resulting in the death of the first lady, implies that Park or intelligence authorities were possibly behind the case. "After careful consideration, and taking into account the safety of audiences and attendees, we have decided not to participate in the BIFF's opening ceremony or the Outdoor Stage Greeting scheduled for Oct. 7," Hive Media Corp. said in an English-language statement posted on its social media account. Lead actors Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho were set to take part in the opening ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, while director Hur Jin-ho, actor Park Hae-il and the other two actors were set to participate in the outdoor event the following day to introduce the film. An "Actor's House" program,2d agoBy Yonhap
Civic group to rally outside actor's home over film 'The Assassin(s)'A conservative civic group said Friday it will hold rallies outside the home of actor Yoo Hae-jin to protest alleged historical inaccuracies in his film "The Assassin(s)." The New Freedom Solidarity said it submitted plans to the police to stage rallies outside Yoo's home in northern Seoul at 4:30 p.m. every day starting Saturday until the end of the month. The movie, which features Yoo in a leading role, deals with the 1974 assassination of former first lady Yuk Young-soo, the wife of late former President Park Chung-hee. It has drawn intense backlash from conservative groups and politicians, who argue the film maliciously implies Park was behind the incident. "We are asking the actor to also appear in right-wing movies so that there is a political balance," Kim Sang-jin, the leader of the civic group, told Yonhap News Agency. "There are many things we could raise suspicions about too, and we want him to appear in (films about them) too." The film's production team has said the work was not intended to draw a new historical conclusion or deny or distort established facts.2d agoBy Yonhap
InterviewHuman prism: Lee Byung-hunBetween “G.I. Joe” and “ Squid Game,” hero and villain, acclaim and controversy, actor Lee Byung-hun has made the space between worlds a stage for his brilliance. A defining figure of Korean cinema, he absorbs the light and shadow of his time, refracting contradictory elements of desires and anxiety through his life and performance. A recent Forbes headline offered an unexpected point of connection: “Oracle Has Cut 21,000 Jobs This Year Due to AI, More Layoffs Expected.” The news of workers confronting an uncertain future echoed themes that emerged in a long conversation with Lee last year — a broader exploration of the human condition in an age when familiar boundaries are increasingly difficult to hold. On a crisp October day, with late autumn settling quietly over Seoul, Lee sat down for an extended conversation at a quiet cafe in Samcheong-dong. The meeting followed a series of encounters at the Venice International Film Festival, in Los Angeles and later in Busan, before the conversation finally continued in Seoul. On screen, Lee possesses the kind of presence that se2d agoBy Lee Kyung-hwa
Tom Cruise returns to Seoul for 'Digger' with bold transformationTom Cruise returned to Korea for his 13th visit with a new film, “Digger,” that marks one of the Hollywood superstar’s most radical transformations in his five-decade career. "Digger" follows Digger Rockwell, a stubborn billionaire whose drilling operations in a Greenland glacier cause a minor fracture that escalates into an unprecedented worldwide disaster. In the movie, Cruise takes on a new look. Complete with grey hair, aging makeup and a notoriously quick-tempered personality, he plays a figure who plunges the world into chaos. Expressing his joy at visiting Korea once again, the 64-year-old actor highlighted his deep connection with Korean fans. "There are 13 visits to Korea. Fantastic. That's probably a Hollywood record. I love it," Cruise said. "I'm very excited to share a dinner with you all, and I just love coming here." When asked what drew him to "Digger," Cruise emphasized his desire to work with world-class director and step into unfamiliar creative territory. "Alejandro Iñárritu is definitely one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history. He is an extraordinary arOct 1, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Short-form film memes fuel buzz but raise box-office doubtsMeme culture and short-form videos have overtaken the film marketing industry as marketers increasingly bypass traditional reviews and ratings, opting instead to connect with audiences organically through online challenges. This digital strategy generates immediate visibility and rapid traction. However, because audiences consume short-form videos so quickly, industry watchers worry the viral attention burns out before driving actual interest in the films. Film marketers are consistently experimenting with social media to engage audiences. Cast members act out comedic challenges tailored to a film's concept or join viral dance trends. Recently, the cast of "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" generated online buzz with short-form videos that showcased their off-screen personas. By showing a stark contrast to their on-screen characters, the actors easily captured attention and encouraged social media users to join in. Instead of directly asking audiences to buy tickets, this attention-grabbing format effectively draws public interest. The trend extends to YouTube. While actors appear on variousSep 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean films on modern history walk line between fact, fictionThe controversy surrounding the historical thriller “The Assassin(s)” is the latest example of how Korean films depicting the country’s turbulent modern history can become flashpoints far beyond the cinema. From military dictatorships and political assassinations to Cold War operations, filmmakers have repeatedly faced disputes over how far artistic license can stretch when stories involve real people and events. Reactions have ranged from accusations of ideological bias and historical distortion to legal attempts to stop films from being shown. One of the most notable cases involved “The President’s Last Bang,” director Im Sang-soo’s 2005 black comedy about the assassination of President Park Chung-hee by his intelligence chief, Kim Jae-gyu, on Oct. 26, 1979. Before its release, Park’s son Park Ji-man sought a court injunction to block the film, arguing that its depiction of his father damaged his reputation. Unlike many later films inspired by actual political events, “The President’s Last Bang” used the real names of Park and other central figures. Another legal diSep 29, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
COVER STORY 'The Assassin(s)' producers face probe over depiction of Park Chung-hee plotting wife's deathDirector Hur Jin-ho's historical thriller "The Assassin(s)" became the top draw over this year's Chuseok holiday, but the movie is facing a growing political dispute and defamation investigation over its depiction of the 1974 shooting that killed then-first lady Yuk Young-soo. The controversy has spilled into Korea's already deep ideological divide, with conservatives accusing the film of distorting history and liberals defending it as a work of fiction. The debate escalated and took a legal turn on Tuesday, when a former city councilor from the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) filed a police complaint against the director and producers. The complaint accuses them of defamation by spreading false information through the film, claiming the movie distorted history by implying that then-President Park Chung-hee, who took power in 1961 through a military coup, was involved in his wife's assassination. The movie is based on the Aug. 15, 1974, shooting in which Mun Se-gwang, a North Korea-linked Korean resident of Japan, opened fire in an attempt to assassinate Park and faSep 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul and Yi Whan-woo
Korean studios take helm in animating homegrown webtoonsKorean animation studios are expanding their strategy to adapt homegrown webtoons into feature films, adding full in-house production alongside global partnerships. When a hit Korean webtoon got the animation treatment in the past, the actual production usually happened overseas. "Solo Leveling," based on the hit Korean web novel and webtoon, became the most-watched series on record on animation streaming service Crunchyroll. It was brought to the screen through a multinational effort involving Japanese studio and Korean companies. This model combines Korean intellectual property with Japan's decades of production infrastructure. At the same time, a broader movement has been building across the industry, with Korean studios producing theatrical animation domestically from start to finish based on local webtoon stories. "Guardians of the Video Game," based on Gasfard's Naver Webtoon, is one such project. The animated feature, scheduled to hit theaters on Oct. 14, is produced entirely by Seoul-based studio Locus. It follows the studio's previous film "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning," anSep 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
