Controversy Erupts Over Free Screening of 'Assassins' Film by Veterans Affairs

On October 6, lawmakers clashed over the decision by the Northern Gyeonggi Veterans Support Center, under the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, to promote a free screening of the film 'Assassins.'
 
The opposition party, People Power Party, criticized the initiative, arguing that it is inappropriate to use public funds for a film that has been accused of distorting facts. In contrast, the ruling Democratic Party defended the film, asserting that it does not contain significant factual inaccuracies.
 
During the National Assembly's National Policy Audit, People Power Party lawmaker Cho Jung-hoon stated, "Using national budget to show this film to veterans and their families is a completely different issue from freedom of expression," emphasizing that the Ministry should select films that uphold veterans' values.
 
Fellow party member Song Eon-seok pointed out that the center had used the film's synopsis in its promotional materials, questioning, "Is this reasonable?"
 
'Assassins' depicts the attempted assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1974 and the subsequent death of First Lady Yuk Young-soo.
 
Critics argue that the film could mislead viewers into believing that the former president was involved in the events, labeling it as 'historical distortion.'
 
Conversely, the film's production team and director Heo Jin-ho maintain that the film poses various questions based on historical records and existing uncertainties rather than presenting a specific conclusion.
 
Democratic Party lawmaker Han Min-soo remarked, "As the director has stated, this film is inspired by a historical event from 1974 and is based on various records related to that incident, created through cinematic imagination. I hope the People Power Party members refrain from attacking it."
 
Another Democratic Party member, Lee Kang-il, asserted, "The film does not claim that the shooter, Moon Se-gwang, did not kill anyone, nor does it alter historical facts."