Several high schools plan group screenings after exams; online debate pits those urging complaints against students defending their own vote

A promotional image for the film "The Assassin." [Provided by Hive MEDIAcorp]
A promotional image for the film "The Assassin." [Provided by Hive MEDIAcorp]

The film "The Assassin," which depicts the 1974 shooting of Yuk Young-soo, has been embroiled in a historical-distortion controversy — and the debate has now spilled into schools.

News that a high school in Ulsan was planning a group screening of the film set off a sharp online clash, with some calling on parents to file complaints with the local education office while others argued the decision should be left to the students.

In a post on an online community forum Tuesday, a user identified as A urged others to act, writing, "A high school in Ulsan is planning a group screening of 'The Assassin.' It would be great if people filed complaints with the education office." The user added, "Parents, you don't want your children brainwashed by historical distortion, do you? Action is the answer."

Some commenters sided with the post, writing that "regardless of left or right, historical distortion is unacceptable" and asking whether non-parents could also file complaints.

But a counter-post from a student currently enrolled at the school drew attention, with the student pleading for the complaints to stop and explaining that the students themselves had voted on which film to see.

The student, identified as B and said to be a first-year high school student, wrote that teachers had told students they would go see a film after exams and let them vote on which one. "The result of the vote showed an overwhelming majority of students wanted to see 'The Assassin,'" B wrote.

B added that the teachers had not pressured students in any way, and that most students were aware the film carried significant political controversy and the potential for historical distortion. "We simply judged it as something to enjoy," the student wrote.

"It seems many adults are expressing a great deal of concern over our school's group screening, but since this is the result of a vote by the students of our school ourselves, we would be truly grateful if the complaints would stop," B wrote.

"The Assassin" is based on the shooting of Yuk Young-soo, which occurred during a Liberation Day ceremony on Aug. 15, 1974. In the film, detectives and journalists grow suspicious when what they witnessed or reported conflicts with the official account from the investigation headquarters, and set out to uncover the truth behind the incident.


jshan@heraldcorp.com