'The Assassin(s)' Yoo Hae-jin, Coincidence? Financial Sector Advertisement Ends

'The Assassin(s)' Yoo Hae-jin, Coincidence? Financial Sector Advertisement Ends An unexpected variable has emerged surrounding actor Yoo Hae-jin. As the controversy over the historical interpretation of the film 'The Assassin(s)' intensifies, it has been revealed that the financial sector advertising campaign for which Yoo Hae-jin has served as a model has ended. While the financial company explained that the termination was according to the scheduled contract period, various interpretations are arising as the film controversy coincides with protest movements directed toward the starring actors and the advertising brands. According to the financial investment industry on the 2nd, Kiwoom Securities has recently ended the advertising campaign conducted with Yoo Hae-jin as a model and is preparing a new campaign. The company's position is that this termination is a scheduled event according to the contract period. Therefore, based on currently available information, it is difficult to conclude that the end of the advertisement is a measure taken due to the controversy surrounding the film 'The Assassin(s)'. However, attention is being focused as the timing of the end of the advertising campaign overlaps with the period when critical public opinion regarding the film is spreading. The advertising controversy surrounding Yoo Hae-jin is not limited to the financial sector. In the official YouTube advertisement for a fast-food brand featuring Yoo Hae-jin as a model, protest comments related to the film followed, and the comment function for the video has been suspended. This advertisement was released just before the film controversy began to spread in earnest, and subsequently, reactions appeared online linking the individual actor to the advertising brand. The starting point of the controversy is the film 'The Assassin(s)' in which Yoo Hae-jin participated as a lead. This work, directed by Hur Jin-ho, is structured in a way that traces the suspicions and the mastermind behind the shooting incident of Yuk Young-soo that occurred on August 15, 1974. Since its release, debates have expanded into political circles as criticisms were raised by some in politics and among audiences that the film distorts actual historical facts or presents a specific historical interpretation. In response to such criticisms, the production team countered that the film was not created to confirm a specific historical conclusion or to deny or distort existing facts. The production team explained that they did not present the hypotheses and dramatic settings in the film as historical facts, nor did they designate a specific person as the mastermind behind the incident. Director Hur Jin-ho also explained that rather than focusing on a single incident, the film intended to show the era and social atmosphere of 1974. However, the controversy is appearing to spread beyond the work to the fields of activity of the starring actors. Following the cancellation of actor Lee Min-ho's schedule for the Busan International Film Festival 'Actors House', the film's side also canceled the attendance at the Busan International Film Festival opening ceremony and the outdoor stage greeting schedule. The production company stated that after reviewing the recent situation regarding the film, they are canceling the schedule considering the safety of the audience and attendees. The stage greetings for the second week of release were also entirely canceled. The production company explained that after reviewing various situations surrounding the work, they decided not to proceed with the schedule out of concern that excessive burdens were being placed on the starring actors and the production crew even outside of the work. It is as if the production team directly expressed concern in a situation where the boundary between expressing opinions about the film and attacks directed at the individual cast members is blurring. Furthermore, the intensity of the controversy has increased further as a rally in front of Yoo Hae-jin's residence has been announced. Kim Sang-jin, representative of New Freedom Solidarity, announced through SNS that a rally in front of Yoo Hae-jin's residence has been reported, and also released the relevant report. In this process, as the actor's residence emerged as a subject of controversy, points were raised that the criticism of the work and the issues of the actor's individual privacy and safety should be separated. Ultimately, the situation currently unfolding for Yoo Hae-jin is spreading to a stage that is difficult to explain simply with the pros and cons debate regarding a single film. In the case of the termination of the financial sector advertisement, the company stated it was according to the contract schedule, but questions were raised as the timing overlapped with the film controversy, and comment blocking occurred in other advertisements. With official events including film festivals and stage greetings being canceled in succession, it remains to be seen how the controversy surrounding the work will affect the individual commercial activities and daily life of the actor.