'The Assassin(s)' controversy divides viewers at Busan film festival

Visitors at the 31st Busan International Film Festival in Busan expressed divided views over The Assassin(s), which dramatizes the 1974 assassination attempt on then-President Park Chung-hee. Conservative groups and civic organizations accused the film of historical misrepresentation, while a defamation complaint prompted police investigations. Cast and crew canceled festival appearances over safety concerns, and jury members and visitors debated creative freedom, historical memory and threats against filmmakers.

The film depicts the 1974 assassination attempt that led to the fatal shooting of then-first lady Yuk Young-soo.

Actors Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho skipped the festival’s opening ceremony, while an outdoor stage greeting and a talk program were canceled.

BIFF competition jury president Zhang Yimou said he had not seen the film but argued that viewers can interpret creative works differently.

Korean director July Jung said filmmakers bear full responsibility for their work and should expect both praise and criticism.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs through Oct. 15 at Busan Cinema Center and other venues across Busan.

Published Oct 8, 2026 5:08 pm KST

Visitors to the 31st Busan International Film Festival stand in line to purchase tickets at Busan Cineman Center in Busan, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

BUSAN — Amid escalating controversy over the film "The Assassin(s)," visitors at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) are far from united in their views. Among those aware of the dispute, opinions were split between discomfort and support for creative freedom.

The film dramatizes the 1974 assasination attempt on then-President Park Chung-hee, which led to the fatal shooting of then-first lady Yuk Young-soo. Conservative political circles and civic groups accuse it of misrepresenting history, and a defamation complaint against the filmmakers has led to police investigations.

The dispute has reached the festival itself. Cast and crew canceled their attendance at BIFF, citing safety concerns, while the culture ministry and the film community called for a strict response to threats against them. Actors Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho skipped the opening ceremony, and an outdoor stage greeting and a talk program were canceled. The festival said it had no particular position to make on the controversy.

On Wednesday, the festival's competition jury members addressed the dispute at a press conference. Jury president Zhang Yimou, who said he had not seen the film, said, "Creation is creation," adding that viewers can interpret a film differently. Korean director July Jung said filmmakers bear full responsibility for their work and should expect both praise and criticism, though the recent backlash had made her uneasy.

Visitors and local residents relax and enjoy a quiet moment at the outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center while waiting for an event for the 31st Busan International Film Festival, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Ordinary visitors offered more mixed views.

A university student in his 20s from Seoul said he had watched "The Assassin(s)" and wasn't especially conscious of the issue afterward.

"But once it became controversial, I realized people could react in such different ways," he said. "The production company had promoted it as the first movie to dramatize this incident before its release. After the controversy, I understood why this tragic event had never been made into a film until now."

He said he came to Busan because many films he likes are being released, including Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Look Back.” He also praised the festival organizers for quickly reflecting the global rise of animation. The festival has added a special program this year in response to animation's global box office success.

"I want to give the organizers high marks for their keen sense of the trend," he said.

Visiting with friends, a woman in her 40s said she had seen the movie and believed it should be viewed within the bounds of dramatic imagination and creative freedom.

"It is a sensitive subject, that's true," she said. "But I felt the film focused less on the assassination itself than on the aftermath, highlighting the violence and authoritarianism of that era. I respect the views of those who dislike it, but threatening the actors seems excessive."

Older Busan residents were more conflicted. A group of men in their 70s, relaxing in the shade of the outdoor screening area, said freedom of expression matters. But for them, the incident is still a shocking memory, and they felt uneasy seeing it depicted this way.

"It's bitter," one of them said. "It's still a shocking memory for us. It's hard to accept that people made that memory into a movie as entertainment."

Still, he had words of encouragement for filmmakers.

"When making films based on modern history, I hope filmmakers at least respect certain limits,” he said. "But I want to cheer on the people who make movies. I hope they keep creating with confidence. We come here for walks even when there's no festival. I hope the festival does well and brings more visitors to Busan."

Several overseas tourists said they were unaware of the controversy. They said they visited Busan as travelers and came to see the festival, which they knew of as a well-known film event in Asia.

BIFF runs through Oct. 15 at Busan Cinema Center and other venues across the city.

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在釜山举行的第31届釜山国际电影节上，观众对电影《刺客》褒贬不一。该片讲述了1974年朴正熙总统遇刺未遂事件。保守派团体和公民组织指责该片歪曲历史，并引发了一起诽谤诉讼，警方已介入调查。出于安全考虑，剧组人员取消了部分电影节活动。评委和观众就创作自由、历史记忆以及电影制作人面临的威胁等问题展开了辩论。

这部电影描绘了 1974 年导致时任第一夫人陆英秀被枪杀的暗杀未遂事件。

演员柳海镇和李敏镐缺席了电影节的开幕式，户外舞台致辞和访谈节目也被取消。

釜山国际电影节竞赛单元评委会主席张艺谋表示，他没有看过这部电影，但他认为观众可以对艺术作品有不同的解读。

韩国导演郑朱莉表示，电影制作人要对自己的作品负全部责任，应该预料到会得到赞扬和批评。

第31届釜山国际电影节将于10月15日前在釜山电影中心及釜山其他场馆举行。

发布于2026年10月8日下午5:08（韩国标准时间）

周四，在釜山电影中心，第31届釜山国际电影节的观众们排队购票。（韩国时报，白炳烈摄）

釜山——随着电影《刺客》引发的争议不断升级，第31届釜山国际电影节（BIFF）的观众们对此看法不一。在了解这场争议的人群中，意见分歧很大，有人感到不安，也有人支持创作自由。

这部电影以戏剧化的方式展现了1974年针对时任总统朴正熙的刺杀未遂事件，该事件导致时任第一夫人陆英秀被枪杀。保守派政治团体和公民团体指责该片歪曲历史，针对电影制作方的诽谤诉讼已引发警方调查。

这场争议甚至波及到了电影节本身。出于安全考虑，剧组人员取消了出席釜山国际电影节的计划，而文化部和电影界则呼吁对针对他们的威胁做出严厉回应。演员柳海真和李敏镐缺席了开幕式，原定的户外舞台欢迎仪式和座谈环节也被取消。电影节方面表示，他们对此事不持任何立场。

周三，电影节竞赛单元的评委们在新闻发布会上回应了这场争议。评委会主席张艺谋表示自己并未看过这部电影，他说：“创作就是创作”，并补充说观众对电影的解读可以各不相同。韩国导演郑朱莉表示，电影人要对自己的作品负全部责任，应该预料到会受到赞扬和批评，尽管最近的负面评价让她感到不安。

周四，在第31届釜山国际电影节期间，游客和当地居民在釜山电影中心露天剧场放松身心，享受片刻宁静，等待活动开始。（韩国时报 白炳烈 摄）

普通游客的看法则褒贬不一。

一位来自首尔的二十多岁的大学生表示，他看过电影《刺客》，但之后并没有特别意识到这个问题。

“但当这部电影引发争议后，我意识到人们的反应会如此不同，”他说。“制片公司在上映前曾宣传这是第一部将这一事件搬上银幕的电影。争议过后，我才明白为什么直到现在，这个悲剧事件才被拍成电影。”

他说他来釜山是因为很多他喜欢的电影都会在这里上映，包括是枝裕和的《回望》。他还赞扬了电影节组织者迅速反映了动画在全球的崛起。为了应对动画在全球票房上的成功，电影节今年特设了一个特别单元。

他说：“我要给组织者们打高分，因为他们对趋势有着敏锐的洞察力。”

一位四十多岁的女士在与朋友聚会时表示，她看过这部电影，并认为应该在戏剧想象力和创作自由的范围内观看这部电影。

“这的确是个敏感话题，”她说。“但我感觉这部电影与其说是聚焦于刺杀事件本身，不如说是着重展现了事件的后续影响，突显了那个时代的暴力和专制。我尊重那些不喜欢这部电影的人的观点，但威胁演员似乎有点过分了。”

釜山的老年居民则更加矛盾。一群七十多岁的老人在露天放映区的树荫下休息时表示，言论自由很重要。但对他们来说，那次事件仍然是一段令人震惊的记忆，看到它以这种方式呈现，他们感到不安。

“这太痛苦了，”其中一人说。“这仍然是我们难以接受的记忆。很难接受人们竟然把这样的记忆拍成电影来娱乐大众。”

不过，他还是给电影制作人送上了鼓励。

“在拍摄以现代史为题材的电影时，我希望电影人至少能尊重一些界限，”他说。“但我会为所有拍电影的人加油。我希望他们能继续充满信心地创作。即使没有电影节，我们也会来这里散步。我希望电影节能够成功，为釜山带来更多游客。”

几位海外游客表示他们并不了解这场争议。他们说，他们是以游客的身份来釜山旅游，专程来看电影节，他们知道这是亚洲著名的电影盛事。

釜山国际电影节（BIFF）将于10月15日前在釜山电影中心及市内其他场馆举行。

在《刺客》争议中，釜山国际电影节评审团力挺创作自由

《刺客》主演誓言对在其家门外的抗议者做出强硬回应

电影协会呼吁就《刺客》展开理性讨论，不要针对电影制作人。