"Rating for Ages 12 and Up Is Inappropriate" vs. "Concerns Over Chilling Creative Freedom"

[Anchor]

The film 'Assassin(s),' which depicts the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, came under scrutiny once again today (October 12) during a parliamentary audit. The People Power Party criticized the film's rating for viewers aged 12 and older as inappropriate, while the Democratic Party pushed back, arguing that political interference stifles creative freedom.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon reports.

[Reporter]

During the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit of organizations including the Korean Film Council and the Korea Media Rating Board.

Lawmakers from the People Power Party argued that granting 'Assassin(s)' a rating for viewers aged 12 and older was unacceptable, pointing to its violence, profanity, and issues regarding historical distortion.

[Yoon Yong-geun / People Power Party Lawmaker: Children born in 2012 know nothing about the situation back in 1974. They will have no choice but to perceive it as historical fact.]

[Kim Byung-jae / Chair, Korea Media Rating Board: The final rating is decided through a process of sharing various opinions and reaching a consensus.]

The Democratic Party countered that the interpretation of a film belongs to the audience and warned that political meddling threatens creative freedom.

[Cho Gye-won / Democratic Party of Korea Lawmaker: Even events and activities related to the movie are being canceled. Should politics really intervene like this?]

[Han Sang-jun / Chair, Korean Film Council: It is true that there are concerns that the film industry might be chilled.]

Heated exchanges also continued over whether the content of the film aligns with historical facts.

[Kim Seok-ki / People Power Party Lawmaker: Do you believe that instead of an assassination by North Korea, our Korean Central Intelligence Agency intervened and President Park Chung-hee was behind it?]

[Kim Yoon-jee / President, Korea Creative Content Agency: I understand that the film does not portray it that directly. I believe it is appropriate not to disclose my personal opinion.]

An opposition lawmaker also criticized the Korea Creative Content Agency for granting an "A" grade to categories such as director competence and screenplay during its content value assessment of 'Assassin(s).' Regarding the controversy, the agency head responded to the effect that cinema is a space for unleashing imagination and can encompass a variety of narratives.

(Video by Oh Young-choon, Lee Seung-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Park Sun-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.