The Assassin(s) has surpassed 2 million moviegoers in South Korea despite ongoing controversy surrounding its portrayal of a historical event.
According to the Korean Film Council, The Assassin(s) reached a cumulative audience of 2,045,495 on October 3, just 11 days after its release. The film attracted 155,086 viewers that day and ranked No. 1 among Korean films at the box office.
It has also remained the most reserved Korean film for 20 consecutive days. During the National Foundation Day holiday period, its seat occupancy rate rose to 33.4%, showing continued audience interest.
The film, starring Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, and Lee Min Ho, centers on questions surrounding the August 15, 1974 assassination attempt that resulted in the death of South Korea’s then-first lady.
Since its release, some critics have accused the movie of distorting history. On September 29, former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Lee Jong Bae filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against director Hur Jin Ho and members of the production team, alleging defamation through false information.
The production team responded by emphasizing that the movie is a fictional work inspired by historical events and various records.
They stated, “The Assassin(s) is a fictional film reconstructed with cinematic imagination based on various records surrounding a historical event that occurred in 1974.”
The filmmakers also said the movie was not created to establish a new historical conclusion or deny established facts, adding that it does not identify a specific person as being behind the incident or present its fictional scenarios as historical fact.
They acknowledged that a film involving real people and historical events could receive different interpretations and criticism and asked audiences to view the project as a creative work rather than one made for a specific political purpose.
Despite the debate surrounding the film, The Assassin(s) has continued to draw audiences and has now passed the 2 million admissions milestone less than two weeks after its theatrical release.
