New Reform Party's Lee Ki-in Criticizes Film 'The Assassin(s)': "Imagination Cannot Be Evidence"

Lee Ki-in, chair of the New Reform Party's emergency leadership committee, criticized the film 'The Assassin(s),' saying, "While former President Park Chung-hee's authoritarianism and wrongdoings must be strictly criticized, there is no reason to add an unproven theory that he masterminded a murder to that criticism."

Holding an emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly today (September 28), Lee stated, "The New Reform Party respects creative freedom," adding, "However, creative freedom does not justify the historical perception and raising of questions within the work."

He continued, "Questioning an investigation and claiming that former President Park Chung-hee was involved in his wife's death are entirely different assertions," saying, "The massive gap between suspicion and conclusion cannot be bridged with music, editing, and actors' facial expressions."

Lee also pointed out, "Imagination cannot serve as evidence," adding, "One should not draw the audience in by borrowing the weight of historical events and then answer that it is merely creative work when asked for the grounds behind the core suspicion."

Lee asked, "I would also like to ask those who defend this work: if the same kind of suspicion were directed at a president they support and their family, would they still evaluate it as bold imagination?"

He went on to say, "The New Reform Party criticizes this film," adding, "That does not mean we should block its screening; whether to screen it should be left to the audience's choice, while the film's claims and attitude should be subject to public criticism and verification."

Meeting with reporters after the session, Lee addressed remarks by some People Power Party lawmakers who argued that those involved in producing the film should face strict punishment, saying, "Legal punishment goes too far," and adding, "We must observe whether the same principles are consistently applied under this administration, and reflect on whether the social principles and standards agreed upon by the public are being upheld."

(Photo courtesy of Hive Media Corp, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.