The Assassin(s) will no longer take part in its scheduled events at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.
On October 2, the festival announced that the film’s opening ceremony appearance and outdoor stage greeting had both been canceled at the request of production company Hive Media Corp.
The production team said it made the decision after reviewing the recent situation surrounding the movie and considering the safety of audiences and participants.
It stated, *“After carefully reviewing the current situation surrounding the film, we decided to cancel the scheduled Busan International Film Festival opening ceremony appearance and the outdoor stage greeting on October 7 for everyone’s safety and the smooth operation of the event.”*
Director Hur Jin Ho and actors Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, and Lee Min Ho had originally been scheduled to attend the outdoor event.
Earlier on October 2, BIFF had said there were no changes to the stage greeting at that time. The schedule was later canceled after the production company submitted its request.
Lee Min Ho’s separate *Actors House: Lee Min Ho* event had also already been canceled, meaning the film now has no remaining official appearances scheduled at this year’s festival.
The Assassin(s) has faced criticism from some political and civic groups over its fictional treatment of events inspired by the 1974 assassination attempt involving then-President Park Chung Hee and First Lady Yuk Young Soo. The production team has emphasized that its latest schedule changes were made after considering safety and the burden placed on the cast and staff.
