"File Complaints" vs "Student Choice"… Debate Over Group Viewing of 'Assassin(s)' at High School

Ulsan High School Plans Group Viewing After Exams
Some Netizens Announce Complaints Over "Historical Distortion"
Student Responds: "It Was Decided by Vote... Please Stop the Complaints"

News that a high school in Ulsan is planning a group viewing of the film "Assassin(s)," which deals with the shooting incident of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, has sparked controversy online.

'Assassin(s)' poster displayed at a movie theater in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Online Division Over Group Viewing... Student Says "Please Stop Filing Complaints"

According to social networking services (SNS) on September 29, a post has circulated recently that a high school in Ulsan would watch "Assassin(s)" in groups after the exam period. Some netizens raised concerns that the film might lead students to accept unverified suspicions as fact. These individuals argued, "Is it appropriate to show a film with historical distortion controversies to students in a group setting?" and "Parents shouldn't remain passive," urging others to file complaints with the school and education office.

On the other hand, some argued that since the movie is a work of fiction applying creative imagination to real-life events, it should be viewed as a creative work. They commented, "Assuming students will blindly believe everything in a movie is underestimating them," and "Students should have the freedom to watch and make their own judgments." The debate continued with counter-responses in the comments.

As news spread that a high school in Ulsan is organizing a group screening of the movie "Assassin(s)," some netizens posted messages suggesting filing complaints. Thread

A student who identified themselves as a freshman at the school scheduled for the group viewing left a comment on the thread where the group viewing news first spread. According to the student, the film to be watched after the exams was decided through a student vote, and "Assassin(s)" won an overwhelming majority. The student explained, "There was no intervention or coercion from the teachers," and added, "Most students are aware of the political controversy and historical distortion debates surrounding the movie." The student continued, "We do not accept the film as historical fact but simply view it for entertainment," and requested, "Please stop the complaints trying to block the viewing."

"Assassin(s)" is a film based on the shooting of First Lady Yuk Young-soo during the Liberation Day commemoration ceremony on August 15, 1974. In the movie, detectives and journalists grow suspicious as what they witness and investigate diverges from what is announced by the investigation headquarters, leading them to pursue the true nature of the incident. Since the film raises suspicions over who was behind the case, some have pointed out concerns over historical distortion. According to box office data from the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticket sales network as of September 28, the cumulative audience has reached 1,566,222.

Political Circles and Foundation Strongly Oppose; Production Company: "No Individual Identified as Responsible"

This movie is breeding political controversy. On September 28, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, wrote on SNS, "They say the story claims President Park Chung-hee was behind the shooting of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, which is truly preposterous," adding, "There's talk that it’s practically a remake of the North Korean propaganda film 'Nation and Destiny.'" Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also commented on SNS the same day: "Film is an area of creative freedom, and prior censorship violates the constitution; however, when a commercial film distorts historical facts for profit, criticizing the film and its makers is justified."

The Park Chung Hee Presidential Memorial Foundation issued a statement the same day, saying that investigation and court records show that Zainichi Korean Mun Se-gwang was acting on orders from an official of Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan). The foundation said, "We express deep regret over acts distorting a historical tragedy that inflicted irreparable pain on former President Park Chung-hee and his family," demanding an official apology and suspension of the film's screening from the production company.

In its official position, production company Hive Media Corp. stated, "This work was not created to newly define a specific historical conclusion or to deny or distort existing facts," adding, "Nowhere in the film is any specific individual identified as the person behind the incident, nor are any hypotheses or dramatic settings presented as historical facts." They further stated, "We want to clarify that, beyond the unique creative intent and nature of this work, the film was not produced for any specific political purpose, and we ask you to view it solely as a creative product."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.