Korean filmmakers urge politicians to let audiences judge amid 'The Assassin(s)' row
Summary
Renowned Korean directors and film officials called for an end to political efforts to influence judgments of The Assassin(s) at a press conference in Busan on Thursday. They said audiences, rather than politicians, should evaluate the film and warned that presuming its intent could hinder creative freedom. The Singapore International Film Festival said its planned screening remains unchanged, while the People Power Party urged its withdrawal. The controversy has also led to the cancellation of related events at this year’s Busan International Film Festival.
Key Facts
- About 20 people, including directors Chung Ji-young and Lee Myung-se, signed the call at the press conference.
- The Singapore International Film Festival said The Assassin(s) remains the opening film of its 37th edition after being selected through an independent process for its artistic merit.
- The People Power Party sent an official letter to the Singapore International Film Festival urging it to withdraw the film.
- The film portrays the 1974 assassination attempt on then-President Park Chung-hee, during which the first lady was killed.
- The controversy over alleged historical inaccuracies has drawn criticism mostly from conservatives and resulted in the cancellation of events connected to the film at BIFF.
Korean filmmakers hold a press conference at Haeundae beach in Busan, Thurday, 2026, over the controversy surrounding the Korean film "The Assassin(s)," in this photo provided by the group.
BUSAN — Renowned Korean directors and film industry officials on Thursday called for an end to attempts to politicize the historical film "The Assassin(s)" amid a controversy over its historical inaccuracies.
Some 20 people, including directors Chung Ji-young and Lee Myung-se, made the call at a press conference in the southeastern city of Busan where the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is under way.
"We are concerned over the situation in which evaluation of the movie is expanding into a tool for political feuds," they said in a statement. "Audiences, not politicians, should judge."
They expressed concerns over presuming the intention of a film without thoroughly watching it and holding directors, actors and production companies accountable, saying such an attitude could hinder creative freedom.
Thursday's press conference came a day after the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) said its plan to screen "The Assassin(s)" at the upcoming film fest remains unchanged.
"SGIFF respects the creative vision of the filmmakers behind 'The Assassin(s),' which remains the Festival Opening film of our 37th edition," its organizers said in a statement, adding the film was selected through an independent process and for its artistic merit.
Earlier this week, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) sent an official letter to SGIFF, urging the withdrawal of the film from the event.
The filmmakers also criticized the PPP's move, calling for more prudence in taking a domestic political issue to a foreign film festival and stressing that audiences will ultimately decide how they will accept a film.
"The Assassin(s)," which deals with the 1974 assassination attempt on then Korean President Park Chung-hee that resulted in the death of the first lady, has faced criticism, mostly from conservatives, sparking a debate over creative freedom.
The backlash has led to the cancellation of events related to the film at this year's BIFF.
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