Overview
- The Assassin(s), which opened on Sept. 23, became a Korean box-office leader with about 2.23 million admissions and strong weekend grosses despite the controversy.
- The Directors Guild of Korea issued a public defense saying attacks on the film’s cast and crew have “crossed the line” and urged protection for creators’ livelihoods.
- Lee Jong-bae filed a police complaint seeking investigations of director Hur Jin‑ho, the distributor CEO and the screenwriters for alleged defamation.
- Online campaigns flooded review sites with one-star scores and targeted actors and reviewers, and the row has disrupted festival and marketing plans including questions over the film opening the Singapore International Film Festival on Oct. 21.
- The dispute has turned into a test of creative freedom in South Korea with risks of industry self-censorship, ongoing police and parliamentary pressure, and potential diplomatic or festival fallout to watch next.