'Assassination' ticket sales pass 10 million

Actress Jun Ji-hyun, left, and actor Oh Dal-su, who star in "Assassination," hold up messages thanking the audience for watching the film after ticket sales passed 10 million, Saturday. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

Ticket sales of the film “Assassination,” depicting the struggles of Korean independence fighters during Japanese colonial rule, passed 10 million on Saturday _ the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day.

It is the first Korean film to hit 10 million this year _ 25 days since the film was released.

Among foreign films, the Hollywood blockbuster “Avengers: Age of Ultron” released earlier this year made 10.5 million in sales and “Ode to My Father” released last December 14 million.

Assassination is the 12th Korean movie to top 10 million and the 16th including foreign films here.

Director Choi Dong-hoon became the second director to have two films surpass 10 million in ticket sales after “The Thieves” in 2012.

Director Youn Je-kyoun was the first with “Haeundae” and “Ode to My Father.”.

“Assassination,” which premiered on July 22, stars Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo.

Critics say the film’s depiction of the struggles of the independence fighters and the remnants of the pro-Japanese groups hit a chord with Koreans ahead of Liberation Day.