Seoul police chief vows strict action against threats to cast of 'The Assassin(s)'

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Ko Beom-seok said police will take strict action if criminal conduct against cast members of "The Assassin(s)" — a film at the center of a historical distortion controversy — is confirmed.

Ko made the remarks at a regular press briefing Tuesday, saying "threats or intimidation against the actors will naturally be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law."

Ko said no request had yet come from Yoo Hae-jin or his agency. "If we determine that a safety issue could arise, we are also preparing additional measures such as enhanced patrols and personal protection," he said.

Earlier, Culture Minister Choi Hwi-yeong said he had asked police to take safety measures for the film's cast and crew and to strictly enforce the law against threats and intimidation outside their homes.

The minister's request followed a Sunday rally in which members of a conservative group gathered outside the home of Yoo, the lead actor in "The Assassin(s)," demanding the film be pulled from theaters and that the cast and crew issue a public apology.

However, Ko said no illegal activity had been confirmed in connection with the rally so far.

"The Assassin(s)" is based on the real-life assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee on Aug. 15, 1974, when Mun Se-gwang, a second-generation Korean resident of Japan, opened fire and killed first lady Yuk Young-soo. The film's production team has been reported to prosecutors on defamation charges.

Police have assigned the case to the Jongno Police Station, which is preparing to question the complainants.

Meanwhile, Yoo's agency also signaled a firm response to the situation.

VAST Entertainment said Monday on its Instagram account that it had confirmed "defamatory content and false information about our actor Yoo Hae-jin are being recklessly spread and circulated through online communities and social media." The agency said it "takes very seriously any and all acts that generate or spread false information, launch malicious personal attacks or insults, invade the actor's privacy, threaten his personal safety, or damage his reputation."

The agency added that it is "continuously collecting related posts and materials, and will take every possible measure to protect our actor's rights and safety from such illegal conduct."

The Korean Film Industry Solidarity also issued a statement, saying the debate surrounding the film "has gone beyond discussion of its content and interpretation, and is now affecting the daily lives and safety of individuals who participated in the work or expressed opinions about it."

The group said that while those with differing views on the film's content or historical interpretation are free to voice them through criticism, debate and public challenge, "that process must not extend into private domains such as individuals' homes or personal information, nor should it affect their safety or livelihoods."