The ruling People Power Party (PPP) decided on Sunday (October 4) to send a letter in the names of all its lawmakers to the Singapore International Film Festival, requesting the withdrawal of "The Assassin(s)"—a film centered on the fatal shooting of former First Lady Yuk Young-soo—as its opening film.

The party reportedly made the move as an increasing number of lawmakers expressed a desire to join after Representative Joo Jin-woo initially stated he would send a letter under his own name.

Senior Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon met with reporters at the National Assembly and explained regarding the issue, "As many members voluntarily stepped forward to raise their voices, we collected opinions and decided to proceed as a party-wide parliamentary effort."

In his personal letter released earlier, Rep. Joo said, "The film turns the family of a murdered victim into suspected perpetrators, imposing a horrifying narrative on the actual bereaved family that a father was involved in the mother's death." He added, "Do not lend the prestige of the film festival to an immoral distortion of history that insults both the victim and the bereaved family."

The PPP continued its offensive against "The Assassin(s)" through the holiday.

Five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won criticized on Facebook, "Naver reportedly asked police to investigate, citing 'macro manipulation' as the reason for switching the setting of the rating board for the immoral film 'The Assassin(s)' to chronological order. They are making a lame excuse that this is why they changed it to the latest order."

She continued, "Does this mean the recommendation system of the nation's largest portal is so shoddy that it was breached helplessly by a single macro program? It is practically no different from confessing that a 'second Druking scandal' is being brazenly left unchecked inside Naver.

We must thoroughly investigate during the parliamentary audit whether there was selective public opinion control by Naver and further manipulation of public opinion through comments."

Rep. Joo held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day, urging, "The Korea Development Bank indirectly invested 14 billion won and the Industrial Bank of Korea indirectly invested 14.2 billion won in Hive Media Corp, the production company of 'The Assassin(s).' In effect, the state-run banks' money is lining the pockets of this production company. They must immediately recoup the invested funds and investigate the circumstances behind the investment."

Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok announced that he will visit the birthplace of former First Lady Yuk Young-soo in Okcheon County, North Chungcheong Province, on October 5 to hold a press conference.

(Photo: Yonhap News)