As the controversy surrounding the film "The Assassin(s)" grows and backlash mounts against lead actor Yoo Hae-jin, his agency has announced a firm response while the film industry issued a statement calling for an end to threats against individuals.
Yoo's agency, Vast Entertainment, released an official statement Monday through its SNS account, saying it takes "very seriously any and all acts that invade the actor's personal privacy, threaten his safety, or damage his reputation."
The agency said defamatory content and false information targeting Yoo have been spreading indiscriminately across online communities and social media, with malicious personal attacks continuing unabated.
Since "The Assassin(s)" opened, a controversy over alleged historical distortion has fueled calls to boycott a fast-food product Yoo endorses, with posts circulating online showing users deleting a related app. On Sunday, members of some conservative-leaning organizations held a rally outside Yoo's home in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, demanding the film be pulled from theaters and that an apology be issued.
The agency said it "will take all possible measures to protect the rights and safety of our actor from illegal acts," adding that it "will continue to pursue necessary legal and administrative action on matters confirmed through ongoing monitoring."
The film industry also released an official statement the same day, expressing collective concern. A coalition of 19 organizations called the Film Industry Solidarity — including the Korean Film Directors Guild, the Korean Film Producers Association, the Korean Independent Film Association and the National Film Industry Labor Union — issued a statement saying that "discussions about a film must not lead to threats against individuals' daily lives and safety."
The coalition noted that debate over the work had gone beyond its content and interpretation to affect "the daily lives and safety of individuals who participated in the work or expressed opinions about it," pointing to the rally held outside a residential address and the cancellation of events.
While acknowledging that "a work dealing with real historical events can invite diverse challenges and social debate over interpretation and expression, and that the pain and critical perspective felt by bereaved families and those who remember that era must also be respected," the coalition drew a clear line: "Criticism of a work and pressure on individuals must be clearly distinguished." It added that any disagreement should be raised through open means such as criticism and debate, and must not extend to invading personal domains — including residential addresses and personal information — or threatening people's safety and livelihoods.
The coalition stressed that its position does not represent any judgment on the film or its historical interpretation, adding that "the assessment of a work is for audiences and society to make."
It also urged the public to "acknowledge that differing opinions can exist and to ensure that disputes do not turn against people," while pledging to fellow filmmakers that "we will stand together so that no individual has to bear threats and pressure alone simply for having participated in a work."
shee@heraldcorp.com
