History, Fiction, and Controversy: Korea's Divisive Assassination Film

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Korean Reading Practice
History, Fiction, and Controversy: Korea's Divisive Assassination Film
Date: September 30, 2026

Introduction

This article discusses a recent South Korean film that depicts a significant historical event from 1974 — the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo during the Park Chung-hee era. The film sparked intense political debate, with conservative groups criticizing it for suggesting government involvement in the incident without clear evidence. The controversy affected the film's box office performance and led to legal action against its creators.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
영화 yeonghwa film; movie 그 영화는 역사적 사건을 다루고 있어요.That film deals with a historical event.
암살 amsal assassination 1974년의 암살 사건이 영화의 배경이에요.The 1974 assassination is the film's background.
역사 yeoksa history 이 영화는 역사를 왜곡했다고 비판받았어요.The film was criticized for distorting history.
정부 jeongbu government 보수 단체들은 정부 개입을 암시한다고 주장했어요.Conservative groups claimed it implied government involvement.
창작 changjak creative work; creation 제작진은 이것이 정치적 목적 없는 창작물이라고 말했어요.The production team said it was a creative work without political purpose.
비판 bipan criticism 보수 진영의 비판이 계속되고 있어요.Criticism from conservative circles continues.
흥행 heunghaeng box office; commercial success 영화의 흥행 성적이 변했어요.The film's box office performance changed.
불매 bulmae boycott 불매 운동이 시작되었어요.A boycott movement began.
누적 nujeok cumulative; accumulated 누적 관객 수가 증가했어요.The cumulative audience number increased.
고소 goso file a complaint; sue 변호사는 경찰에 고소했어요.The lawyer filed a complaint with the police.
명예훼손 myeongyehweson defamation; libel 명예훼손죄로 고소당했어요.He was sued for defamation.
제작진 jejakjin production team; producers 제작진은 정치적 목적이 없다고 해명했어요.The production team explained there was no political purpose.

Reading Text

영화 '암살자(들)'는 허진호 감독이 만든 작품으로, 1974년 8월 15일에 일어난 박정희 전 대통령의 부인 육영수 여사의 총격 사망 사건을 배경으로 하고 있습니다.

The film "Assassins," directed by Huh Jin-ho, is based on the August 15, 1974 shooting death of Yuk Young-soo, wife of former President Park Chung-hee.

당시 수사 기관은 그 사건이 북한과 조총련의 지시를 받은 재일 한국인 문세광에 의해 저질러졌다고 발표했었습니다.

At the time, the investigation bureau announced that the incident had been carried out by Korean-Japanese resident Moon Se-gwang, who was acting under orders from North Korea and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.

그러나 영화는 역사적 사건을 재구성하면서 그 사건 뒤에 숨겨진 정황이 있었을 가능성을 예술적 상상력으로 표현했고, 특히 정부의 개입 가능성을 시사했습니다.

However, the film reconstructed the historical event and, through artistic imagination, depicted the possibility of hidden circumstances behind the incident, specifically suggesting potential government involvement.

이에 국민의힘을 중심으로 한 보수 진영은 영화가 특정 인물을 지명하지 않으면서도 정부 개입을 암시함으로써 역사를 왜곡했다고 비판했습니다.

In response, conservative groups led by the People Power Party criticized the film for distorting history by implying government involvement without naming specific individuals.

제작진은 이런 비판에 대해 영화가 "사건의 배후를 특정 인물로 지정하지 않았으며 정치적 목적이 없는 창작물"이라고 해명했습니다.

Regarding this criticism, the production team explained that the film "did not designate any specific person as being behind the incident and is a creative work without political purpose."

흥행 성적을 보면, 28일에는 영화가 2위로 내려갔는데 약 67,000명의 관객을 기록했고, 같은 날 '타짜: 벨제붑의 노래'가 약 68,000명으로 1위를 차지했습니다.

Looking at box office performance, on the 28th the film dropped to second place with approximately 67,000 viewers, while "Tazza: The Prequel" took first place with approximately 68,000 viewers.

이후 국민의힘 대표 장동혁은 28일에 영화의 불매를 제안했고, 29일에는 20대에서 30대의 젊은이들이 자발적으로 불매 운동을 시작했다고 페이스북에 올렸습니다.

Subsequently, People Power Party representative Jang Dong-hyuk proposed a boycott of the film on the 28th, and on the 29th posted on Facebook that young people aged 20–30 had voluntarily started a boycott movement.

그런데 29일에는 영화 '암살자(들)'가 다시 1위로 올라갔으며 61,496명의 관객을 기록했고, 누적 관객 수는 1,695,104명에 이르렀습니다.

However, on the 29th the film "Assassins" returned to first place with 61,496 viewers, and the cumulative audience reached 1,695,104.

국민의힘 전직 서울시의원 이종배는 29일에 서울경찰청에 허진호 감독과 제작진을 명예훼손죄로 고소했습니다.

Former Seoul city councilman Lee Jong-bae of the People Power Party filed a complaint with Seoul Police on the 29th against director Huh Jin-ho and the production team for alleged defamation.

Grammar Points

-에 의해(서) by (passive agent)

Used to mark the agent in a passive construction. Attaches to a noun to mean 'by (someone/something)'.

📖 당시 수사 기관은 그 사건이 북한과 조총련의 지시를 받은 재일 한국인 문세광에 의해 저질러졌다고 발표했었습니다. At the time, the investigative agency announced that the incident was committed by Mun Se-gwang, a Korean resident in Japan who had received instructions from North Korea and Chongryon.

✏️ 그 편지는 익명의 사람에 의해 보내졌습니다. The letter was sent by an anonymous person.

-(으)ㅁ으로써 by means of / by ~ing

Formed by attaching -(으)ㅁ으로써 to a verb stem, meaning 'by means of ~ing'. Expresses the method or means by which something is achieved.

📖 이에 국민의힘을 중심으로 한 보수 진영은 영화가 특정 인물을 지명하지 않으면서도 정부 개입을 암시함으로써 역사를 왜곡했다고 비판했습니다. In response, the conservative camp centered on the People Power Party criticized the film for distorting history by implying government involvement without naming a specific individual.

✏️ 매일 운동함으로써 건강을 유지할 수 있습니다. You can maintain your health by exercising every day.

Cultural Notes

The incident depicted in the film — the 1974 assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo — remains a deeply sensitive and politically charged topic in South Korea. The event occurred during Park Chung-hee's authoritarian rule (1963–1979), a period that continues to divide South Korean society into those who view it as a time of economic development and national strength, and those who emphasize human rights abuses and political repression. In contemporary Korean politics, how historical events from this era are portrayed in media and film often becomes a flashpoint for ideological conflict between conservative and progressive groups, reflecting broader disagreements about how to interpret and remember the nation's modern history.

Topics are inspired by current events in Korea. All lessons are original learning content written by Learn Korean Today.
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

What historical event does the film "Assassins" depict, and in what year did it occur?

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Q2

According to the investigation bureau at the time, who carried out the shooting, and under whose orders was it done?

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Q3

What was the main criticism from conservative groups regarding the film?

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Q4

How did the film's box office ranking change between the 28th and 29th, and what were the audience numbers?

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Q5

What legal action did Lee Jong-bae take against the film's director and production team?

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