Yoo Hae Jin’s agency has announced plans to take legal and protective action following growing online attacks and a recent protest held near the actor’s home.

On October 5, VAST Entertainment said it had identified defamatory posts and what it described as false information about Yoo Hae Jin spreading through online communities and social media.

The agency stated that it is taking seriously any conduct involving alleged false information, malicious personal attacks, insults, invasion of privacy, threats to the actor’s safety, or damage to his reputation.

VAST Entertainment said it is collecting related posts and evidence and added, “We plan to take all possible measures to protect our artist’s rights and safety.”

The statement came one day after a protest by a conservative civic group was held near Yoo Hae Jin’s residence on October 4.

The situation follows controversy surrounding the film The Assassin(s), directed by Hur Jin Ho and starring Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, and Lee Min Ho. The movie was inspired by the 1974 assassination of former First Lady Yuk Young Soo and uses fictional elements while exploring questions surrounding the historical event.

Some political figures and viewers have criticized the film, arguing that parts of its fictional storyline could be interpreted as suggesting involvement by government institutions at the time.

The production team, however, has maintained that the movie is a fictionalized drama based on historical records and does not present its theories as established facts.

The producers previously stated that the film does not identify any specific person as being behind the incident and does not present its fictional scenarios as historical truth.

As debate over the movie spread to members of the cast, VAST Entertainment stressed that criticism of a film is separate from alleged harassment or threats directed at Yoo Hae Jin personally.

The agency said it will continue monitoring the situation and take necessary action when it identifies conduct that may violate the actor’s rights or threaten his safety.