Yoo Hae-jin pulls, Park Hae-il drags, Lee Min-ho seeps in.. The power of 'Assassins' [Kim Na-yeon's Diagonal Line]

*This content was translated by AI.

[Editor’s Note] Reporter Kim Na-yeon's personal perspective on watching the film.

The actors' flawless performances draw the audience back to that day in 1974. As each character pushes forward the incident with their own unique temperature and gaze, the audience finds themselves standing within that hanbok board. Even if what lies at the end is not a clear period but yet another question mark, the intense moments created by the actors make it impossible to look away until the very end.

On August 15, 1974, an unprecedented incident occurred during the live broadcast of the 29th Liberation Day celebration ceremony watched by the entire nation: the First Lady was shot.

In an instant, the venue descended into chaos. The suspect was arrested, the incident was recorded as a national tragedy, and it was hastily concluded.

However, detective 'Cheol-gu' (played by Yoo Hae-jin), who was in charge of on-site security; 'Jae-hwan' (played by Park Hae-il), the head of the newspaper's social affairs department who gazed upon the hidden side of the incident; and rookie reporter 'Young-il' (played by Lee Min-ho), who witnessed that day's chaos firsthand, began to harbor lingering doubts between the released investigation results and the actual circumstances.

'Assassins' does not merely transfer the shocking event that occurred on August 15, 1974, onto the screen. Following the questions these characters hold, the film delves deeply into the hanbok board of the 1974 mystery. And ultimately, it is the actors who bring that era back to life most vividly.

Yoo Hae-jin anchors the center of the drama with his character grounded in reality. His portrayal of a detective quietly doing his duty blends naturally into the historical backdrop. After sensing the suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, he gradually builds up suspicion and tension in his gaze and tone. As the character's confusion and obsession deepen while approaching the truth, they firmly hold the film's tension.

Above all, Yoo Hae-jin erases any sense that he is 'acting.' His rough speech patterns, gestures, and fleeting expressions are as natural as someone who lived through that era. This is a highlight showcasing the depth of acting skill Yoo Hae-jin has accumulated over many years.

If Yoo Hae-jin firmly pulls the center of 'Assassins,' then it is Park Hae-il who draws the audience even deeper into the story. Park Hae-il plays 'Jae-hwan,' a newspaper social affairs department head pursuing the truth behind the incident amidst countless censors and pressures, completing the character with his unique restrained charisma and focus.

Especially in the latter half, during the scene where he calls for freedom of the pen in an era where silence was forced upon people, Park Hae-il pushes forward all the emotions he has accumulated. His bursting voice and unwavering gaze heighten the tension of the scene while leaving a heavy aftertaste.

Adding to this, Lee Min-ho vividly brings to life a character coexisting with the pure passion of a newcomer and his slick resourcefulness, showing a new side. Shedding his previously flashy image, Lee Min-ho's performance that naturally seeps into the period drama confirms an even broader spectrum as an actor.

Familiar faces such as Kim Dae-myung, Shim Eun-kyung, Park Hae-jun, Park Sung-hoon, Oh Jung-se, Shin Hyun-bin, and Jung Woo-sung appear in succession despite their brief screen time. While the lavish special appearances can be a delightful treat for viewers, conversely, they may also act as elements that hinder immersion by making the actors' names come to mind before the characters themselves.

Director Heo Jin-ho, who directed the film, explained, "I had the thought that even if the characters appeared only once, I wanted them to be memorable to the audience. In doing so, I made such choices myself."

The evaluation of these choices is up to the audience. What is certain is that 'Assassins' is a film that does not offer a single answer but instead pursues the truth until the end while harboring questions. Through this process, the actors' flawless performances bring the time of 1974 into the present. The power that even makes viewers gaze upon the question mark left at the ending—ultimately, the most powerful weapon of 'Assassins' is the actors themselves.

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*This content was translated by AI.