‘Assassins’ Haee-il Park Takes on a Conviction-Driven Journalist as ‘Jae-hwan’ Character Still Released

The film 〈Assassins〉 returns the actor Haee-il Park as ‘Jae-hwan,’ the head of the newspaper’s social affairs bureau, a journalist who won’t step back in front of the truth, and the newly released character stills have piqued expectations. 〈Assassins 〉 is a story that tracks down the allegations and the masterminds behind the assassination attempt on the first lady that shocked South Korea on August 15, 1974.

〈Decision to Leave〉, 〈Han-san: The Appearance of the Yongu〉, and 〈Namhansanseong〉—across weighty works like these, Haee-il Park has earned the trust of critics and audiences with airtight performances. Following 〈The Housemaid? No—A Royal Family Daughter?〉 and 〈Assassins〉, he reunites with director Heo Jin-ho once again in 〈Assassins〉. With expressive portrayals that pinpoint a character’s inner world and a restrained emotional performance that leaves a lasting afterimage, Park raises the film’s completion level by vividly depicting the face of a journalist who records an era. In particular, he will take on the role of ‘Jae-hwan,’ the head of the newspaper’s social affairs bureau, who digs into the truth without bending even amid endless censorship and outside pressure, and is expected to unfold sharp judgment and an unwavering belief in a persuasive way. By fitting together scattered pieces of suspicion one by one as the story moves closer to the truth, Park is expected to deliver both a heavy-handed charisma and a distinctly human warmth, maximizing the drama’s tension and immersion.

The character stills unveiled alongside the project capture moments of ‘Jae-hwan’ struggling to reveal the truth, instantly grabbing attention. First, the image of ‘Jae-hwan’ sitting at a desk at a newspaper office, lost in thought, shows a careful side as he calmly organizes leads from the case and moves closer to the reality of the matter. Next, even among countless reporters, his resolute gaze stands out, revealing an ironclad belief and a firm determination that won’t give in to any form of pressure—heightening curiosity about what choices he will make as he digs into who was behind the incident.