A promotional display for "The Assassin" at a movie theater in Seoul [Yonhap]
A promotional display for "The Assassin" at a movie theater in Seoul [Yonhap]

The Park Chung-hee Presidential Memorial Foundation on Monday expressed "deep regret" over the film "The Assassin," which deals with the shooting of the late first lady Yuk Young-soo, saying it "strongly condemns" what it called a distortion of a historical tragedy that caused "indelible suffering" to former President Park Chung-hee and his family.

The foundation issued a statement Monday demanding that the production company "officially apologize for distorting historical facts and halt the screening of the film," according to Yonhap.

"The Assassin" has drawn controversy for implying a conclusion that differs from the government's official account — that Yuk was killed by a bullet fired by Mun Se-gwang, a Korean resident of Japan.

The foundation rebuffed allegations that only four shell casings were found at the scene of the shooting, suggesting a cover-up. "According to investigation records held at the Diplomatic Archives, Mun Se-gwang loaded five rounds into his pistol for the attack," it said. It added that the claim that the truth was concealed because only four casings were recovered despite six shots being fired "is inconsistent with the investigation records from that time."

The foundation also pushed back against allegations that the Korean Central Intelligence Agency orchestrated the shooting. "The process by which Mun Se-gwang was recruited by Kim Ho-ryong, a figure linked to Chongryon, and carried out the Aug. 15 shooting is documented in investigation and trial records," it said. "Nevertheless, the claim that the KCIA — and by extension the president at the time — planned the assassination of the first lady for political purposes risks seriously distorting historical fact."

The foundation added that it "expresses deep concern over the use of a national tragedy as material for commercial entertainment, the distortion of historical facts, and actions that provoke social conflict and national division."


husn7@heraldcorp.com