Yoo Hae-jin's Agency Warns of Strict Action Amid Protests Over Historical Distortion Controversy

[Anchor]

Protests have been held in front of the home of actor Yoo Hae-jin, the lead star of the movie "Assassins," which has been embroiled in controversy over historical distortion. Yoo's agency stated that it will take all possible measures to protect his rights, interests, and safety from illegal acts.

Reporter Seo Donggyun has the details.

[Reporter]

A protest by a conservative civic group took place in front of the residence of actor Yoo Hae-jin, the lead star of the film "Assassins."

The protesters demanded an apology, claiming that the movie distorted history by dealing with the shooting death of First Lady Yuk Young-su.

[Protesters: "The producers and actors of 'Assassins' must apologize to the bereaved family and the deceased! (Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!)"]

Protests calling for the replacement of Yoo Hae-jin as a commercial model for products he endorses were also scheduled.

In response, Yoo Hae-jin's side released its first official statement.

Yoo's agency stated through its website, "We are taking any acts that infringe on the actor's personal privacy, threaten his safety, or defame his character very seriously."

It also emphasized, "We plan to take all possible measures to protect the rights, interests, and safety of our agency's actor from illegal acts."

The Filmmakers Union, comprising 19 organizations including the Korean Art Cinema Association and the Directors Guild of Korea, also issued a statement, saying, "Criticism of a work and pressure on an individual must be separated," and adding, "Discussions about a movie should not lead to threats against an individual."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young stated, "While evaluation of a movie is free, threatening the personal safety of creators destroys democracy," and requested police and other authorities to strictly enforce the law regarding protests in front of actors' homes.

(Camera Reporter: Joo Yong-jin, Choi Jun-shik | Video Editing: Yoon Tae-ho | Design: Park Tae-young)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.