'The Assassin(s)' Nears 2.5 Million Viewers—Screening Suspended at CGV Gumi

Even amidst fierce controversy, the film 'The Assassin(s)' is not letting go of its momentum at the theaters. Even after the National Foundation Day holiday ended, it has maintained its position at the top of the box office and is on the verge of surpassing 2.5 million cumulative viewers. While the debate surrounding the work spreads outside the theaters and leads to the successive cancellation of major events, the audience's choice continues.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie ticket sales on the 7th, 'The Assassin(s)' took first place at the box office on the 6th, attracting 54,177 viewers in a single day. The cumulative number of viewers is 2,466,991, and it is projected that surpassing 2.5 million viewers will be possible on the 7th.

'The Assassin(s)', which returned to the top on the 4th, has maintained its first place at the box office for three consecutive days. Although the daily number of viewers itself decreased as the holiday ended, it maintained its lead with a gap of more than 20,000 people from the second-place film. Following its achievement of surpassing 2 million viewers just 11 days after its release, it is now on the verge of setting another new box office record.

In particular, it is noteworthy that the film is showing presence in terms of seat occupancy rate and reservation competitiveness among Korean films. Even during the period when weekday theater audiences decrease following the Chuseok holiday, it is showing the possibility of long-term success by maintaining its top position. The upcoming Hangeul Day holiday is expected to be another watershed moment for its box office performance.

'The Assassin(s)' is a work directed by Hur Jin-ho and starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho. It depicts the story of journalists tracking the suspicions and the mastermind surrounding the shooting incident of Yuk Young-soo that occurred on August 15, 1974. Since its release, debates have continued as criticisms of historical distortion have been raised by the political sphere and some audience members regarding certain settings in the film and the interpretation of historical events.

The controversy has extended beyond the film itself to affect the activities of the actors. Considering the safety of the audience and attendees, the production company canceled related schedules such as attendance at the Busan International Film Festival opening ceremony and outdoor stage greetings, and the 'Actors House', which Lee Min-ho was scheduled to participate in, was also called off. The production company also canceled the stage greeting schedule for the second week of release, expressing concern that the burden on the cast and production crew continues even outside the work.

In the midst of this, screening was suspended at a theater in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the hometown of former President Park Chung-hee. The controversy has entered a new phase as the demands for suspension of screening that have continued since the release have led to actual changes in theater programming.

CGV Gumi excluded 'The Assassin(s)' from its list of available movies for reservation starting from the 6th. However, it has been confirmed that this decision is not a nationwide measure at the level of CGV headquarters. The branch in question is not a directly managed store of the headquarters but a franchised store, and it was confirmed that film programming is carried out according to the judgment of the franchisee.

In Gumi, movements demanding the suspension of screening have continued, centered around some conservative-leaning groups and the political sphere since the film's release. Local organizations such as the Park Chung-hee Birthplace Preservation Association held a protest in front of the former President's birthplace on the 30th of last month, urging the suspension of screening, claiming that the film distorts historical facts and defames the deceased.

On the 6th, a protest demanding the suspension of screening was also held in the Gumi area theater district. On the same day, National Assembly members of the People Power Party from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions held a press conference at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, demanding an apology from the production team and the suspension of the film's screening. Observations have also emerged that the timing of the suspension of screening coincided with the period when such backlash was concentrated, suggesting that these related movements may have had an influence. However, the theater has not officially stated that it suspended the screening due to the demands of the political sphere or organizations.

Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho also attended the protest held at the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee on the 30th of last month. Mayor Kim raised issues with the way the film reconstructs actual historical events and expressed a position that it is difficult to accept asking for understanding solely on the grounds of "creation" after having constructed the structure of a historical event. He also expressed concern that the film could have a negative impact on the evaluation of former President Park Chung-hee's leadership and national development.

'The Assassin(s)' is a work that cinematically reconstructs the shooting incident of Yuk Young-soo that occurred at the National Theater of Korea in Jangchung-dong, Seoul, on August 15, 1974. As it is based on a real-life event, criticisms that it distorted historical facts have been raised by some since its release, while counterarguments that it should be viewed within the realm of cinematic reconstruction and freedom of expression have also emerged.

Ultimately, the result of an actual suspension of screening occurred in Gumi. However, it has not been confirmed whether this decision is a direct result of the controversy and protests or an independent programming decision by the franchised operator. Beyond the suspension of screening at a specific theater, debates are expected to continue regarding how far the realm of creation should be viewed when reconstructing historical events into films, and how much responsibility should be demanded regarding real people and history.

Yoo Hae-jin also decided not to attend the Buil Film Awards held on the 7th following the Busan International Film Festival, meaning that all official schedules planned in Busan have effectively been canceled. The situation has expanded such that the controversy is affecting not only the film's box office success but also the external activities of the actors.

Nevertheless, the box office success within the theaters is following a separate trend. While some analyses suggested that the daily number of viewers decreased significantly after the controversy intensified, 'The Assassin(s)' regained its first place at the box office and has remained at the top consecutively.

In the end, 'The Assassin(s)' has become one of the works in the most complex situations in the Korean film industry right now. While the debate over the method of cinematically reconstructing historical events continues, the film is adding to its box office record by surpassing 2.5 million viewers at the theaters. As the controversy becomes prolonged, how the audience's choice will continue during the Hangeul Day holiday and how far the box office trend will last are emerging as new points of interest.

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