Yoo Haejin Called "North Korean Face," "Who Pushed Roh Moo-hyun?"... People Power Party Launches Fierce Attack on Assassin(s)

Controversy Over Historical Distortion in "Assassin(s)"

Political Disputes Escalate

The controversy surrounding the film "Assassin(s)," which deals with the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo, is intensifying between the ruling bloc and conservative circles. Some within the ruling party have even revived conspiracy theories about former President Roh Moo-hyun's death, while some have not hesitated to make outright personal attacks against actors appearing in the film.

In the movie "The Assassins," Yoo Hae-jin (left) and former President Roh Moo-hyun. Photo by HYBE Media Corp and Yonhap News Agency

The work at the center of the controversy is "Assassin(s)," directed by Hur Jin-ho, who also directed "Christmas in August" and "One Fine Spring Day." Starring Yoo Haejin, Park Haeil, and Lee Minho, this mystery film is based on the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo at the Liberation Day ceremony on August 15, 1974, and follows the pursuit of the truth and real culprits behind the incident.

The special investigation headquarters that handled the case at the time concluded that Mun Segwang, who was supposedly acting under instructions from North Korea and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), failed in his attempt to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee, and instead, Yuk Young-soo, who was sitting next to the president, was fatally shot. Mun Segwang was executed at Seoul Detention Center on December 20 of the same year.

However, some later claimed that a gunshot fired during the security operation, not by Mun Segwang, was the real cause of First Lady Yuk's death. "Assassin(s)" incorporates these suspicions as a fictional device, portraying scenes where a journalist and detective attempting to uncover the truth are hindered by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, thus presenting the incident from a different perspective.

Criticism Mounts: "Distorting History" and "Insulting the Deceased"

Immediately after the film's release, the opposition and conservative circles criticized it as "distorting history" and "insulting the deceased." The Park Chunghee Memorial Foundation demanded a halt to screenings and a formal apology from the production team, stating that the film distorts a historical tragedy that caused great pain for the former president and his bereaved family.

In response, the production team explained that the film was not created for any specific political purpose. They clarified that the film does not identify any individual as being behind the incident, nor does it present the film's hypotheses or dramatic settings as historical facts.

Movie poster for "Assassin(s)." Hybe Media Corp

Conspiracy Theories About Former President Roh Moo-hyun's Death—People Power Party Takes Aim at 'Assassin(s)'

Nevertheless, the People Power Party has increased its criticism, arguing that the film implies that authorities at the time may have been involved in the incident. On September 28, Representative Lee Jinsook of the People Power Party posted on Facebook several parody movie posters circulating online. Among them was one titled "The Truth of Owl Rock," referring to the site behind Bonghwa Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, where former President Roh died. The poster featured phrases such as "A fall, and the mystery left behind. The untold story of that day," along with "Big release on May 18."

Representative Lee also posted a mock movie poster titled "The One(s) Who Pushed," which featured photos of former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in side by side. Explaining that these were "memes" (online viral content), Lee questioned, "All of these could be considered products of cinematic imagination, so why do the director and producers turn a blind eye? Is it political imagination, factional imagination, or simply agitational political behavior?"

On the same day, Park Minyoung, People Power Party's media spokesperson, also raised suspicions surrounding the death of former President Roh. On his YouTube channel, he posted a video titled "Roh Moo-hyun—Who Pushed at Owl Rock: The One(s) Who Pushed," asserting that there are many suspicious aspects to the circumstances of Roh's death.

Spokesperson Park argued, "If we respect the freedom of expression so cherished by the left, shouldn't the family of former President Roh also be subject to reinvestigation now?" He questioned, "How many suspicious aspects were there surrounding the extreme decision by former President Roh at the time?"

He further continued, "Was there any video footage at the time that could clearly identify the details? Was there a handwritten suicide note?" Repeating his suspicions about Roh's death, he added, "Moving forward, we expect that, whatever suspicions we raise concerning former President Roh, those on the left will tolerate and accept them within the bounds of freedom of expression."

Personal Attacks on Cast Members

Eventually, direct disparaging remarks targeting the appearance of actors in the film also erupted. On September 27, Representative Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party criticized "Assassin(s)" in an emotionally charged Facebook post, stating, "If a film were made claiming that Kwon Yangsuk orchestrated former President Roh Moo-hyun's death, would that also be accepted as freedom of expression?" He called the film "an outrage against humanity."

A comment presumed to have been posted by Joo Jinwoo, a member of the People Power Party, directed at actor Yoo Haejin. Thread capture

What drew even more attention was Representative Joo’s personal attack targeting Yoo Haejin, who played a detective in the film. On September 29, an online user listed Yoo Haejin’s filmography on a thread, pointing out that he frequently appeared in movies with themes related to North Korea, anti-Japanese sentiment, or criticism of military regimes. The commenter then wrote, "Just go live in North Korea. Stop acting ridiculous in the free Republic of Korea." In response, Representative Joo directly commented "North Korean face," effectively agreeing with the insult.

However, in most of the six films cited as "North Korea-themed" by the online user, Yoo Haejin did not play a North Korean character. Instead, he appeared as a gangster, a detective struggling to make a living, or a resident of a rural village occupied by North Korean soldiers during the Korean War.

Meanwhile, on September 29, former Seoul City Council Representative Lee Jongbae filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police against director Hur Jin-ho, the CEO of the production company, and the writer, accusing them of defamation by disseminating false information.

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