The 2026 film The Assassins has sparked a sharp political controversy in South Korea over its depiction of the 1974 assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-su, though director Hur Jin-ho stated on September 28, 2026, that the movie does not claim President Park Chung-hee staged the shooting as a self-made plot.
Conservative Backlash Hits the Silver Screen
The film dramatizes the fatal shooting of First Lady Yuk Young-su by Mun Se-kwang on August 15, 1974. Critics from conservative circles argue the movie demonizes President Park by portraying him as orchestrating the attack to consolidate his political support.
Figures such as lawmaker Yoo Young-ha publicly condemned the project on September 28, stating that the film has "crossed a line."
Director Rejects Conspiracy Interpretations
Addressing the backlash during an interview with local media on September 28, 2026, director Hur Jin-ho rejected claims that the film accuses President Park of organizing the assassination of his wife.
"The idea that the President ordered the shooting of First Lady Yuk does not appear anywhere in the movie," Hur stated. "I never imagined such an interpretation would arise. President Park could have easily been struck by the gunfire himself, so how could anyone logically plan a self-inflicted plot?"
When questioned about dialogue in the film referencing the "higher-ups" of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), Hur explained that the line referred to internal power struggles among senior KCIA officials. He compared the dynamic to the later assassination of President Park himself, who was shot by KCIA Director Kim Jae-gyu amid friction with Chief Presidential Bodyguard Cha Ji-chul.
Addressing Lingering Historical Questions
Critics have accused the filmmakers of amplifying unfounded conspiracy theories during a period of deep political polarization.
The director pointed to lingering public questions regarding Mun Se-kwang’s background, including why an individual with severe myopia and poor marksmanship was tied to the operation.
Regarding historical records of a 2002 apology from North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to then-Assemblywoman Park Geun-hye—where Kim stated that "subordinates were involved"—Hur noted that contemporary news reports indicated Park acknowledged receiving an apology for the 1968 Blue House raid, but maintained she had not heard about her mother’s case.
Concessions on Creative Boundaries
While maintaining that the film was intended to provoke historical discussion rather than assert a presidential conspiracy, Hur conceded that clearer creative boundaries could have prevented misinterpretation.
"The movie deals with a very sensitive subject, and I agree there is historical responsibility," Hur said. "I understand the perspective of audience members who viewed it that way. In hindsight, I think we should have made the distinctions more explicit through the dialogue."
Hur also dismissed claims that The Assassins acquired rights to a 1990s North Korean propaganda film, calling the allegation entirely untrue and noting he learned of such a film only after the rumors surfaced.
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