Hong Joon-pyo: "'The Assassins' is inconsiderate" vs. Park Ji-woon: "Let's watch it again campaign"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-woon engaged in a heated exchange over the historical distortion controversy surrounding the film "The Assassins," which has surpassed 3.24 million viewers.

On KBC's "Yeouido Mid-Career Dialogue," broadcast on the 17th, former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Park Ji-won (Rep.) appeared to express differing views on the historical distortion controversy surrounding the film "The Assassins."

When asked whether he had watched "The Assassins," former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo replied, "I did not watch it."

He further stated that the film "goes against courtesy toward a former president," pointing out that "no matter how much speculation runs rampant about President Roh Moo-hyun or President Kim Dae-jung, it does not become news or get made into a movie."

He also criticized the film, saying, "It creates an atmosphere suggesting the existence of a new assassination organization by twisting the truth of the incident, and means for only people in their own camp to watch it enthusiastically," adding, "I view doing so as an abuse of artistic freedom."

In contrast, Park Ji-won (Rep.), who served as Minister of Culture and Tourism during the Kim Dae-jung administration, took a different stance.

Park Ji-won (Rep.) stated, "The movie is thrilling and full of excitement. A movie is a movie," adding, "There is no fiction, and I did not receive such implications."

He continued, "I am from Moon Hwa-bu (Minister), who revitalized Korean cinema, and I watch a Korean movie once a month," saying, "If you are that suspicious, it means we should launch a 'watch it again' campaign."

In response, former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo retorted, "You must not say such things. It is not polite," revealing a stark difference in their positions.

Meanwhile, director Heo Jin-ho's film "The Assassins" is a work that traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the shooting incident of First Lady Yoo Young-sook, which occurred on August 15, 1974. Since its release, controversy has continued as opinions diverge between criticism that it distorts historical facts and views that cinematic imagination and freedom of expression should be respected.

The production team of "The Assassins" explained the historical distortion controversy by stating, "It is a feature film reconstructed by investigating various records and materials based on the historical event that occurred in 1974, adding cinematic imagination."

They further stated, "It is not a movie produced to finalize a specific historical conclusion or to deny or distort existing facts," emphasizing, "Nowhere in the film does it designate a specific person as the mastermind of the incident, nor does it present dramatic settings as historical facts."

Additionally, while stating, "Since it uses historical events and real people as material, we respect various interpretations and criticisms," they urged, "As it is not a movie produced for a specific political purpose, please view it as a product of creation."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original