Yoo Hae-jin’s Team Vows Tough Response to Threats Over ‘Assassins’; Minister Choi Hwi-young Calls for Strict Law Enforcement on July 5

Criticism of film turns into excessive, blind witch hunt

As a controversy over alleged historical distortion surrounding the film 'Assassins' spread into a sweeping boycott targeting lead actor 'Yoo Hae-jin' and protests outside his home, his agency and Choi Hwi-young, the minister of culture, sports and tourism, issued a strong warning July 5, vowing strict legal action against threats to his safety.

'Yoo Hae-jin'’s agency, 'VAST Entertainment', said in an official social media post July 5 that it “views with the utmost seriousness any act that infringes on the actor’s personal privacy, threatens his safety or damages his reputation.” The agency said it is continuously documenting baseless allegations and excessive malicious personal attacks circulating primarily in online communities, and stressed that it plans to pursue every available legal measure.

The agency’s tough response comes as the controversy over the ideological and historical interpretation of 'Assassins' has turned into a witch hunt targeting the film’s lead actor. Online, a boycott of a fast-food brand that hired 'Yoo Hae-jin' as a model and a relay of users posting proof that they had deleted the brand’s app continued. Offline, members of several conservative-leaning groups held a rally July 4 outside 'Yoo Hae-jin'’s home in Seoul’s Seongbuk-gu district, demanding that the film’s screening be halted and that he issue a public apology.

Concern has also grown across the film industry. The 'Filmmakers’ Solidarity' said in an official statement the same day that it was “deeply concerned about the current situation, in which discussions surrounding the film are affecting the daily lives and safety of the individuals involved.” The group said criticism and debate are legitimate but must not spill into the realm of personal privacy or threaten anyone’s safety, adding that “the final judgment on the film belongs solely to audiences and society.”

As the situation worsened, the government also intervened. Choi Hwi-young, the minister of culture, sports and tourism, said in a social media post July 5 that he had “strongly requested that the National Police Agency and other relevant authorities take safety measures for the film’s staff and cast members, and strictly enforce the law against illegal acts, including threats and intimidation outside their residences.”

Choi strongly criticized the protesters, saying, “People are free to evaluate a film, but threats to creators’ safety destroy democracy,” and, “A situation in which protesters go all the way to a cast member’s home, hold demonstrations and invade the person’s daily life can never be tolerated.” Regarding calls to halt the film’s screenings, he stressed that “demanding that the government intervene in advance is a dangerous call to return to the era of ‘prior censorship,’ which the Constitution prohibits,” and said that anyone with legal concerns, including possible defamation, should seek a judicial ruling. He drew a distinction, however, saying that “criticism and debate over historical interpretations are natural and healthy in a democratic society.”