"Trusted" 10-million-ticket actor Yoo Hai Jin leads "The Assassin(s)" to theaters for the Chuseok holiday.
On the morning of the 10th at CGV Yongsan iPark Mall in Guro District, Seoul, a production briefing was held for the film 'The Assassin(s)' (directed by Heo Jin-ho). Actors Yoo Hai Jin, Park Hae-il, Lee Minho and director Heo Jin-ho attended the briefing and spoke.
The film 'The Assassin(s)', scheduled to open this Chuseok, is a story that tracks the suspicions and backers of the assassination attempt on the first lady that shocked Korea on Aug. 15, 1974. Because it is based on the assassination of the late First Lady Yuk Young-soo, director Heo Jin-ho said, "Because the film was made using a real incident as a motif, I tried to balance the different perspectives people bring to that incident. While reviewing materials and interviews, I tried not to hold preconceived notions and to maintain a balanced perspective. As 'The Assassin(s)' was made into a film, I tried to make it tense and fast-paced to fit the mystery-tracking genre it takes on."
When asked what prompted him to turn the incident into a film, director Heo Jin-ho said, "It has been about 10 years since I first thought of this project. It was not an easy story. It was a real and tragic incident, and there are living people who were actual figures in it. I kept worrying about how to approach it. But one reason this story interested me and made me want to try it was that many broadcasters have treated these stories in documentary form, and there were questions and mysterious aspects in the actual case. It seemed like cinematic material. Over 10 years of developing it, what I considered important was a balanced perspective, not being skewed to one side. Because it is a film, it inevitably had to be dramatized to some extent and required parts that could be made entertaining, so we adopted the mystery-tracking format. The actual characters are not specific individuals from that era but characters created by synthesizing people who were at the scene and several real people."
He also spoke about the efforts to recreate the 1970s, saying, "Among the staff who made this film, there are people who know that era best. I was an elementary school student then, so I had a lot of memories to draw on when recreating the '70s. We tried hard to capture the mood and details of the time, but it was difficult because there are not many places or spaces left in Korea where you can recreate that era, so we recreated them with difficulty."
In particular, 'The Assassin(s)' was honored with an official invitation to the gala presentation section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival even before its release. Director Heo Jin-ho said, "It felt like receiving a gift before the release. When we were contacted by the Toronto festival, there seemed to be a lot of praise for the actors' performances. I thought it was a very good start before the release," expressing his joy.
In the film, Yoo Hai Jin plays Cheol-gu, a chief inspector at Jungbu Police Station who directly witnessed the assassination attempt on the first lady. Yoo Hai Jin introduced the role, saying, "He was in charge of security at the shocking crime scene. He was a person who was actually at the scene, but he feels a difference from the official case announcement and investigates on the front lines. He is a character who digs into what the truth is."
On efforts to portray the character, he said, "This applies not only to this work but to others as well — it always seems to be about emotional change. Especially the emotions when a colleague is dragged away by false accusations, the emotions when he returns, and the emotions while tracking the events between those moments as they approach the truth. I prioritized emotion. Having witnessed the actual scene and being a police officer by profession, he has instinctive police behaviors and pursues questions about the case by running around, so there will be a sense of excitement."
Park Hae-il plays Jae-hwan, the head of the social affairs desk at a newspaper, who uncovers the truth of the case despite countless censorships and outside pressure. Park Hae-il explained, "He was not at the scene and was checking the sniper incident situations through the newspaper's live coverage. So he is a figure who, with a reporter's instinct, pursues and uncovers doubts and suspicions related to the case one by one through reporting."
Reuniting with director Heo Jin-ho about 10 years after 'The Last Princess,' Park Hae-il said, "I don't know if I have matured, but I am very grateful that the director sought me out as an actor after 10 years. He suggested a new character and said briefly that it might not be an easy role but that if I took it on, he hoped I would play a character who steadily and skilfully pushes toward the truth, and he entrusted it to me." Director Heo Jin-ho added, "In the script, the role of Jae-hwan seemed very logical and thoughtful, so Park Hae-il came to mind when I first read it. On set, he played a leader in the space of a newspaper, and while filming he kept talking with the reporters so they could act in rhythm together. There was a scene that included Young-il where he didn't even appear, but on a hot summer day he sat in a corner and talked. Many actors really liked that."
Lee Minho, who plays Young-il, a rookie reporter for Dongseong Ilbo who went to cover the Liberation Day ceremony, said, "Young-il comes from a very good family background. In some ways, he was a young man whose path to stability and meeting his family's expectations was set, but he enters the chaotic reporters' room chasing his belief in and value of truth. I tried to act with the sense of experiencing the moment rather than as a professional reporter, and because of that, every space and situation felt raw and I was able to act freely."
He joked, "I'm not at an age where it's easy to be the youngest, but I was able to play the youngest while working with senior actors," and added, "I thought Young-il should have the dynamic energy of a live fish. He was raised straight in a good environment but I thought he was someone who yearned for something unfulfilled in his heart. I don't know what that is, but I acted believing that through the job of being a reporter and meeting Jae-hwan, he grows through social experience, believes in the value of truth and dreams of freedom."
Meanwhile, Yoo Hai Jin, who earlier this February drew more than 16 million viewers with the film The King's Warden (directed by Jang Hang-jun), now holds as many as five films that have surpassed 10 million admissions. Joining the Chuseok competition with 'The Assassin(s)' immediately after dominating the Lunar New Year box office, he said, "It's nice to be back during the holidays. In the past there were actors who came to mind when thinking of holidays. Many people unexpectedly watched the film during Seollal, and of course I hope 'The Assassin(s)' does the same, but as you know everything needs to click in three parts. Until then I will work hard; after that I don't know. I hope this film is seen by as many people as the effort put into it. Fortunately, theaters seem to be recovering lately, which feels good; I just hope that recovery continues. I don't know which film will make people laugh or what will do well, but I think it will give audiences choices. It might bring back the joy of going to the theater."
Park Hae-il, who also joined the holiday competition after 'Hansan,' said, "Even if it's not the holidays, I'm nervous about showing a film after four years. It's a pleasant opportunity to feel again, after a long time, that Korean films are greeting audiences with a variety of offerings and that I'm part of one of those films. I think the audience must come to the theaters first for our film to be noticed." Lee Minho added, "Each film has different stories and genres they want to tell, so I hope people see them all, and I hope ours is the first one they choose to see."
On why audiences should choose 'The Assassin(s),' Yoo Hai Jin said, "Not only the actors listed here but many other talented performers appear. The synergy arising from that was densely produced. As the trailer might have shown, the visuals that depict the spaces will look stunning. Of course, the drama contained in the story will also be thrilling."
Park Hae-il said, "Because it's Chuseok, there are many occasions where the whole family gathers. If you come to the theater, the subject matter and those parts will be suitable for viewers of all ages. For older viewers it may touch on events they remember, and for younger viewers who don't know, it could serve as an introduction to modern history events. But since it's not a documentary, the pacing is very fast, and because there are actors and drama, it meshes with the director's detailed storytelling. I understand that several Korean films will open this Chuseok after a long time, so it will be like a varied feast for audiences, and I think many viewers will come to watch movies this Chuseok."
He added, "As an actor, it was natural to be cautious and sensitive when approaching a film based on a real incident. But the director and production team focused on making it an entertaining genre film as well, so if those parts are interesting to many of you, it might become an acceptable work. Please show a lot of interest." Lee Minho also added a cheerful remark: "Yoo Hai Jin has been looking much healthier since 'The King's Warden.' I hope many people enjoy it so the director can look healthier too."
[Photo] OSEN reporter Min Kyung-hoon
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