Joo Jin-woo defends 'North Korea face' remark about Yoo Hae-jin, citing free speech

People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo has rebuffed criticism that he made a personal attack on actor Yoo Hae-jin — who stars in the historically controversial film "The Assassin" — by calling him a "North Korea face," saying the remark was an exercise of free speech.

During a live broadcast on his YouTube channel Wednesday, Joo said, "Is it acceptable to mock the death of Lady Yuk Young-soo in a depraved way, but a problem for me to comment on Yoo Hae-jin's face?" He added, "Don't I have freedom of expression?"

Joo went on to say he had given Yoo "mirror therapy," explaining that he used the term "North Korea face" to mean Yoo had sided with North Korea. "Taking North Korea's side shows on his face, doesn't it?" he said, calling his remarks "precise criticism, a direct hit."

He then raised his voice, saying, "How dare anyone call that a personal attack. What is a real personal attack? The film about Lady Yuk Young-soo is character assassination — something no human being should do."

Joo said the actors should have refused to participate once they read the script and recognized it as an "immoral film." He also claimed the film's supporters had quietly deleted their posts online because of the conservative backlash. "I don't even know who Lee Dong-jin is — the film critic — but he took his post down out of fear," Joo said.

He also called for a boycott of Burger King, saying, "I won't eat at Burger King until Yoo Hae-jin steps down. We on the right need to show our strength too."

The controversy began Tuesday, when a social media user posted that Yoo had appeared in numerous films dealing with North Korea, anti-Japanese sentiment and criticism of military rule, writing, "Just go live in North Korea. Stop acting out in the free Republic of Korea." Joo replied to the post with the words "North Korea face."

Joo also called "The Assassin" "an enormous blunder by the left, who have really overstepped."

He then said the screenwriter and those who brought the script to life were "accomplices," and warned the director and production crew that they would "eventually go to prison" if investigated and indicted for defamation of the deceased.

Joo said the film "has completely flopped" and would not break even, adding that even if it turned a profit, "it should all be taken away." He said there were plenty of talented rookie actors who could replace those who appeared in the film. Anyone who read the script and chose to appear in it — mocking another family's tragedy — "should be prepared to get hurt," he said.

Joo added, however, that he had not seen the film himself. "I felt like I'd throw up, so I didn't watch it," he said.

"The Assassin" is based on the shooting of Lady Yuk Young-soo at a Liberation Day ceremony on Aug. 15, 1974. The film was directed by Heo Jin-ho, known for such works as "Christmas in August" and "One Fine Spring Day," working from a script that won a screenplay competition more than a decade ago. It was produced by Hive MEDIAcorp, a company with a track record in historical films including "12.12: The Day," "Harbin" and "The Man Standing Next."