Culture minister defends creative freedom amid controversy over film's historical inaccuracies

Seoul, October 7 - The Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Chae Hwi-young, defended the creative freedom of the Korean film The Assassin(s) on Wednesday amid controversy over alleged historical inaccuracies. The film portrays a 1974 assassination attempt on South Korean President Park Chung-hee, which led to the death of the president's first lady, and has faced criticism, especially from conservatives, for suggesting state involvement in the crime.

Chae emphasized that the government should not interfere with the content of artistic works, stating that South Korea guarantees freedom of expression and prohibits prior censorship. However, Chae did not rule out the possibility of historical distortion, leaving the decision to the public and audiences.

The minister also defended his social media post against protests outside the cast members' homes and attempts to disrupt advertising activities involving the film's actors. He criticized personal threats against the creators as an attack on democracy, calling for stern action from the police against any illegal acts.

Opposition members tried to summon the film's director and production team during the parliamentary audit on Wednesday, but the plan was halted due to opposition from ruling Democratic Party lawmakers.