The upcoming 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will no longer feature the scheduled events for The Assassin(s) after the film’s production company decided to withdraw its planned appearances.
The decision comes amid continuing controversy surrounding the historical thriller and growing concerns about the pressure being placed on its cast and production team.
On October 2, Hive Media Corp., the production company behind The Assassin(s), announced that the film would not participate in the BIFF opening ceremony or its scheduled outdoor stage greeting on October 7.
The company said the decision was made after carefully reviewing the situation surrounding the film and considering the safety of audiences and attendees.
The film had been scheduled to make a major appearance at the festival.
Yoo Hae Jin and Lee Min Ho were originally expected to attend the opening ceremony, while director Hur Jin Ho and actors Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, and Lee Min Ho were set to participate in the outdoor stage greeting. Lee Min Ho’s separate “Actors House” event had already been canceled earlier.
The cancellations mean that all official BIFF schedules connected to The Assassin(s) have now been scrapped.
Production Company Cites Safety Concerns
In its statement, Hive Media Corp. explained that it had considered the safety of everyone involved before making the decision.
The company said,
“After careful consideration and taking into account the safety of audiences and attendees, we have decided not to participate in the Busan International Film Festival Opening Ceremony or the Outdoor Stage Greeting scheduled for October 7.”
Hive Media Corp. added that it had carefully reviewed the circumstances surrounding the film and made the decision to ensure everyone’s safety and allow the festival events to proceed smoothly.
The company also apologized to audiences who had been looking forward to seeing the cast and expressed appreciation for their understanding.
The Busan International Film Festival subsequently confirmed that the cancellations were made at the production company’s request.
BIFF stated that it respected the decision, which was made with consideration for the safety of audiences and guests as well as the smooth operation of the festival.
The 31st BIFF is scheduled to begin on October 6 and run through October 15.
Historical Controversy Leads to Wider Fallout
The Assassin(s) was released on September 23 and is inspired by the 1974 assassination attempt targeting then-President Park Chung-hee, which resulted in the death of his wife, First Lady Yuk Young-soo.
The film follows an investigation into the circumstances and alleged forces surrounding the incident.
Since its release, the movie has faced criticism from some viewers and political groups over allegations that certain parts of its fictionalized story could be interpreted as suggesting possible involvement by Park Chung-hee or intelligence authorities in the incident.
The production team has rejected allegations that the movie was created to distort or deny historical facts.
The controversy has increasingly affected the people involved with the film.
Reports have described personal attacks and safety concerns involving members of the cast and production team.
Korean filmmaking organizations have also called for debate about the movie to remain focused on the work rather than turning into threats or personal harassment.
The production company has additionally canceled the film’s second-week stage greetings, which had been scheduled from October 3 to 5.
Hive Media Corp. explained that the circumstances surrounding the movie were creating “an excessive burden on the cast and production crew even outside the work.”
It said the decision took into consideration the protection of those involved as well as the impact on audiences and theater staff.
With the BIFF appearances now canceled, The Assassin(s) will not have its planned festival interactions with audiences in Busan.
The development represents another major consequence of the controversy surrounding the film, while the movie’s debate over its historical interpretation continues.
