As the film "The Assassin(s)" faces controversy over alleged historical distortion, the production company has directly stepped forward to dismiss rumors regarding the influx of Chinese capital.

Hive Media Corp, the production company behind "The Assassin(s)," released an official statement on the 29th, saying, "As claims regarding our company and the movie 'The Assassin(s)' involving so-called 'Chinese capital inflow' have recently been spreading through online communities and some media outlets, we would like to state the exact facts." They categorically denied the allegations, stating, "There has been absolutely no Chinese capital infused into the production and investment processes of our company or the film 'The Assassin(s).'" According to the production company, "The Assassin(s)" is a work independently planned and produced by domestic production crews and creators, backed by domestic capital.

Hive Media Corp emphasized, "We are well aware that various opinions and issues have recently been raised surrounding the work, and we respect criticism and diverse views regarding the film." They added, "Matters concerning investment and production capital are objectively verifiable facts," and expressed hope that "information contrary to the facts will no longer be expanded and reproduced."

Previously, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo raised suspicions of Chinese capital investment concerning the production company of "The Assassin(s)," citing past investment pursuit histories by consortia including Chinese financial companies.

The controversy surrounding "The Assassin(s)" first flared up over the film's historical depiction. The movie is a piece that traces suspicions and figures behind the scenes of the shooting of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, which occurred on August 15, 1974. It stars Yoo Hai-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Minho, and was directed by filmmaker Hur Jin-ho. Although the film does not explicitly specify the mastermind behind the incident, it presents a hypothesis through certain characters and dramatic settings suggesting that former President Park Chung-hee's side or the Korean Central Intelligence Agency may have been involved. This has drawn criticism from quarters such as the People Power Party and the President Park Chung-hee Memorial Foundation, who claim it distorts history.

Criticism directed at the movie "The Assassin(s)" has also spilled over into support messages from actors. On the 23rd, the release date, "The Assassin(s)" side unveiled handwritten support messages participated in by Lee Jung-jae, director Lee Joon-ik, Kim Goeun, Jang Dong-gun, Lee Young-ae, PARK JIHOON, director Yoon-seong Kang, writer Kim Eun-sook, writer Kim Eun-hee, Uhm Jung-hwa, Lee Sang Yi, Kim Sung-kyun, and Im Soo-jung. Lee Young-ae wrote, "I watched it thrillingly and movingly. Director Hur Jin-ho is the best!!" while Kim Goeun wrote, "I felt a lot of gratitude for the present. Please watch it together and feel it!"

Subsequently, some netizens left critical comments on the social media accounts of Lee Young-ae and Kim Goeun, along with remarks such as "We will boycott the work and advertised products." Amidst this, it was confirmed on the 29th that videos related to "The Assassin(s)" had been deleted from the channel of film YouTuber "G-Movie," which boasts 4.17 million subscribers. G-Movie's side did not release a separate statement regarding the deletion.

Meanwhile, regarding the criticism of historical distortion, the production company emphasized, "Nowhere in the movie is a specific individual defined as the mastermind behind the incident, nor are hypotheses and dramatic settings presented as historical facts." They added, "It is not a film produced with a specific political objective." Director Hur Jin-ho had previously explained at the press preview that the film's purpose was not to uncover the truth or the mastermind behind the incident, but rather to express the individuals and emotions of those who lived through that era during the process of tracking it.

(Photo: Yonhap News) Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon for SBS Entertainment News