'The Assassin(s)' Yoo Hae-jin Finally Equipped with Smartwatch—Police Provide Personal Protection

The controversy surrounding the film 'The Assassin(s)' has eventually escalated to personal protection measures for lead actor Yoo Hae-jin. Following conflicts over the film's historical interpretation that led to protests against the cast and production crew, and the emergence of threatening remarks online, the police have directly stepped in to take safety measures.

The Seoul Seongbuk Police Station announced on the 6th that it has activated safety measures after receiving a request for personal protection from Yoo Hae-jin's agency, VAST E&M. The police registered Yoo Hae-jin in the 112 reporting system, provided him with a smartwatch, and strengthened patrols around his residence. However, they have not deployed separate dedicated security personnel. According to the police, safety measures can be implemented not only when actual criminal damage occurs but also in situations where there is a concern that damage might occur.

This measure follows ongoing protests against the film and the actor near a detached house in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, known to be Yoo Hae-jin's residence, since the 4th. The police are responding to the protests themselves and the acts of harm or threats directed at the actor as separate issues. Ko Beom-seok, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, also stated during a regular press briefing on the 6th that while protests will be managed according to the law, strict measures will be taken if any harm or threats against the actor occur.

In fact, conservative groups held protests near Yoo Hae-jin's residence demanding the cessation of the film's screening and apologies from the production crew and actors. On the 6th, a protest by a related group was also held in front of the Burger King headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where Yoo Hae-jin has served as an advertising model, and on the afternoon of the same day, another group held a protest in front of the Hive Media Corp building, the film's production company, to condemn the production crew and actors.

In particular, this matter carries a different weight as it has moved beyond criticism of the film to the daily safety issues of the individual actor. The reason the police provided a smartwatch is not that direct harm has occurred, but rather as a preventive safety measure considering the possibility of threats to his personal safety due to the protests around his residence and threatening remarks online. While explaining that no specific illegal acts have been confirmed on-site so far, the police stated they are preparing necessary measures in preparation for the possibility of safety issues arising.

Yoo Hae-jin's side also plans to take legal action against posts spreading online. The agency, VAST E&M, stated that they are collecting relevant data as they have observed slander and false information targeting Yoo Hae-jin being distributed and spreading through online communities and SNS, and they intend to take necessary measures to protect the rights and safety of their actor.

The situation where the controversy has spread to the advertising industry is also noteworthy. Burger King, which featured Yoo Hae-jin as a model, ended its new product campaign on the 6th and cleared related SNS posts and in-store advertisements. However, Burger King explained that the termination of this advertisement was not related to the 'The Assassin(s)' controversy but was according to the originally scheduled one-time campaign schedule. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that there is a direct causal relationship between the end of the advertisement and the controversy.

'The Assassin(s)' is a work based on the 1974 shooting incident of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, and since its release, debates have continued regarding the way the actual historical event was cinematically reconstructed. While evaluations regarding the historical interpretation of the film may diverge, the nature of the controversy has expanded beyond film criticism into the realms of safety and legal response as protests continued in front of the actor's house and threatening expressions appeared online.

Ultimately, the smartwatch provided to Yoo Hae-jin has become a symbolic measure showing how far this controversy has spread. This is because while criticism of the work and protests can take place within the limits allowed by law, harm or threats directed at a specific actor are separate issues. As the police have commenced personal protection and the agency has also announced legal action, the conflict surrounding 'The Assassin(s)' has now entered a phase that includes the safety of the cast beyond the work itself.

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