"Assassins" Controversy Escalates: From Blocking Yoo Haejin's Ad Comments to Protest Announced Outside His Home

New Freedom Alliance Schedules Month-Long Protest Starting October 3
Controversy Flares Over Exposure of Road Name and Building Number in Photo of Suspected Residence

The controversy over alleged historical distortion in the film "Assassins" has escalated, reaching the point where a protest in front of an actor's residence has been announced. Some are now questioning whether it is appropriate to extend the fierce debate over the film's content and historical interpretation to the private homes of actors. On October 1, Kim Sangjin, representative of the conservative civic group New Freedom Alliance, announced on his social media account that he had completed the official notification required to hold a protest in front of actor Yoo Haejin's residence.

Actor Yoo Hae-jin delivering a greeting at the premiere and press conference of the movie "Assassin(s)" held on the 8th at Megabox COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The outdoor assembly notification released by Kim lists the event's title as "Condemn Yoo Haejin, Condemn the Production Company of Assassins." The protest is scheduled to be held from October 3 to October 30, with 20 people registered to participate. Two broadcasting vehicles, a portable folding stage, and sound equipment were also listed among the materials to be brought to the site. Kim shared a photo of a house believed to be Yoo Haejin's residence along with the protest notification via his social media. In particular, controversy arose over allegations of privacy infringement when the road name and building number in the image were clearly identifiable.

Speaking to OhmyNews, Kim stated he had no intention of disclosing the address. He explained that the address was masked in the official assembly notification. When asked how he identified Yoo Haejin's residence, Kim declined to answer, saying he could not reveal the source.

Regarding this protest, netizens are responding that criticism of the movie and pressure on the individual actors should be distinguished. SNS

However, many netizens have pointed out that criticism of the film should be distinguished from pressure on the private lives of individual actors. Even if there are perceived issues with the film's direction or historical interpretation, they argue that showing up at an actor's residence to hold a prolonged protest, or releasing information that could reveal the address, is a separate matter entirely.

The Movie Controversy Reaches Actors' Homes... Ideological Conflict Intensifies in the Arts and Culture Sector

The controversy surrounding "Assassins" is spreading rapidly. Directed by Heo Jin-ho and starring Yoo Haejin, Park Haeil, and Lee Minho, "Assassins" is a mystery thriller based on the shooting of Madam Yuk Young-soo, which occurred during the Liberation Day commemoration ceremony on August 15, 1974. At the time, investigators concluded that Moon Se-gwang, a member of the pro-North Korean organization Chongryon in Japan, was acting on orders from North Korea to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee, but accidentally killed Madam Yuk instead.

The film features fictional detectives and reporters, reconstructing the questions raised at the time of the incident and the possible involvement of power institutions through cinematic imagination. The production team and director Heo explained that rather than concluding the case, they portrayed the remaining questions and the social context of the time cinematically. Yonhap News

The film introduces fictional detectives and reporters, using cinematic imagination to reconstruct questions that emerged at the time of the incident and the potential involvement of power institutions. The production team and director Heo explained that, rather than presenting a definitive conclusion, they aimed to artistically portray the lingering questions and the sociopolitical climate of the era. In contrast, the People Power Party and other conservative voices in the political sphere have criticized the film for suggesting that the Park Chung-hee administration might have intervened in the case, accusing it of distorting historical facts. Some have gone as far as demanding a halt to screenings and summoning director Heo Jin-ho for a parliamentary audit. Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has even called for a boycott of the film.

As the dispute intensifies, the targets of criticism have broadened beyond the filmmakers, spreading to actors as well as critics and YouTubers who have spoken favorably about the film. Some performers' social media accounts have been flooded with malicious comments, and the comment section on a major fast-food brand's YouTube video featuring Yoo Haejin as a commercial model has been disabled. Online, there have also been instances of defamatory language mocking Yoo's appearance by drawing comparisons to North Korea. The recently announced protest in front of his home marks a new escalation, with the controversy leaving the virtual arena and encroaching upon the personal living spaces of the actors involved.

Clash Between Freedom of Expression and Privacy Protection: Past Cases

There have been numerous previous instances where protests were held in front of the homes of those involved in social controversies, including business executives and public officials. These actions have repeatedly led to disputes over how to balance the freedom of assembly with the privacy and residential peace of the individuals involved and their neighbors. In 2025, anti-impeachment protests took place in front of an apartment in Seoul reportedly associated with Moon Hyungbae, then-acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, who presided over the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Sukyeol. Residents complained about noise pollution due to the use of large speakers, and controversy arose when it became known that Moon did not actually reside in the building.

On the 29th of last month, at the plenary meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held in the National Assembly, Kim Seungsoo, a member of the People Power Party, demanded that director Heo Jin-ho and others related to the movie Assassins should be summoned as reference witnesses for the National Assembly audit. Yonhap News Agency

Previously, in 2022, the Eunma Apartment Reconstruction Committee held ongoing protests—using loudspeakers and other equipment—near the home of Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, over issues involving the GTX-C subway line. Subsequently, in an injunction related to this case, the court emphasized the need for strong protection of residents' rights to rest and privacy around their homes. In 2016, the Jeju District Court, in an injunction against labor unions that repeatedly protested in front of a company CEO's apartment complex, ruled to ban rallies and protests within a set perimeter, citing the threat posed to the privacy and peace of the residents.

While freedom of assembly and protest is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution, protests in residential areas inevitably risk clashing with the privacy and peaceful living environment of not only the direct target but also their families and neighbors—leading to ongoing debate over the appropriate scope and methods for such demonstrations. As the discussions over the historical evaluation of "Assassins" and artistic freedom continue, the controversy expanding from the work and its creators to the living spaces of individual actors is likely to further sharpen the debate over the line between legitimate criticism of creative works and personal harassment.

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