CGK Urges Refrain from Attacks on Creators of Film ‘The Assassin(s)’

According to media reports, director Hur Jin-ho's film ‘The Assassin(s)’ is a work that tracks the suspicions and the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on the First Lady on August 15, 1974. Since its release, political and social controversies surrounding the work have grown, and some political figures have also joined the debate. Situations where things the film did not say are spreading as if they were facts have also continued.

The CGK issued a statement on October 2, expressing concern that the actors and staff who made the work together are being wounded by conflicts outside of the work. Previously, the Producers Guild of Korea also released a position calling for an end to acts such as revealing personal identities or threatening livelihoods simply because they participated in the work.

The CGK explained that even films starting from real events are completed through the imagination and interpretation of the creators. The association stated, “Feature films based on history are not intended to replace records,” expressing the intent that the film is a creative work that poses questions to the audience to look back at that era and its people. They added that the reason Korean films have captured various moments of society in their works is also because the audience has accepted such attempts.

The association stated that the empathy, regret, and different perspectives of the audience who watched the work are all part of the dialogue regarding the film. However, they expressed concern that if discussions are directed toward individual creators or actors, or if the audience's evaluations are not fully conveyed, it could become difficult for creators to challenge themselves with new stories. They requested that the audience first encounter the film as a single work, and while sharing opinions freely, show a generous attitude toward those who participated in the production.

The CGK stated that they will work with colleagues in the film industry to protect an environment where each individual audience member's honest evaluation is conveyed as it is, and to foster a film culture where creators can freely unfold their stories. They also requested that the film be watched with a warm gaze so that the film can fully meet the audience as a work. The CGK is a private organization established in May 2013 for the growth of Korean cinema and the creation of a rational production environment.

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