The Assassin(s) revisits the 1974 killing of first lady Yuk Young-soo through the eyes of journalists and detectives, with director Hur Jin-ho saying he wanted to capture the atmosphere of the era. The film opens with the Aug. 15, 1974 shooting during a Liberation Day ceremony and explores doubts about unaccounted-for bullets and missing audio evidence. It also depicts government abuse of power, including torture of officers and press suppression. The film opens in local theaters on Sept. 23.
From left, actors Lee Min-ho, Park Hae-il and Yoo Hae-jin in a scene from "The Assassin(s)” / Courtesy of Hive Media Corp
"The Assassin(s)," an upcoming historical thriller, revisits the 1974 assassination of first lady Yuk Young-soo by focusing on capturing the emotional weight of living in a cruel era.
Director Hur Jin-ho explained he chose to tell the story through the eyes of investigative journalists to reflect the political climate of that time realistically.
"I didn't approach this film with the goal of solving a hidden secret all at once," Hur said after the premiere of the movie in Seoul, Tuesday. "While it follows the format of a mystery thriller, I wanted to show the atmosphere of 1974. Journalists naturally became the central medium to ask questions about that society."
