Gunshots fired in 1974 ring out once again in 2026.
On August 15, 1974, six gunshots echoed through a live broadcast during a national ceremony. The Assassins follows a detective and two journalists as they dig into the mystery behind two bullets scrubbed from the official record, reconstructing one of the nation's most volatile eras.
Director Hur Jin-ho joined lead actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho at Megabox Coex in Seoul on September 8 for a press conference introducing the upcoming historical film.
Chasing Missing Bullets Beyond Official Records
The story centers on the assassination attempt against the First Lady during the 29th Liberation Day celebration. While six shots were fired, authorities officially accounted for only four bullets. The movie moves at a relentless pace to uncover where those missing rounds ended up.
Rather than offering a simple conclusion, Director Hur focuses on human perseverance amid government censorship. "We did not approach this as a film that exposes hidden conspirators to deliver a definitive verdict," Hur explained. "I wanted to capture the internal world of the people who lived through that era while chasing the truth."
The story unfolds through two distinct perspectives. Detective Cheol-goo (Yoo Hae-jin) tracks physical evidence on the ground, while senior reporter Jae-hwan (Park Hae-il) and rookie journalist Yeong-il (Lee Min-ho) battle state censors inside the newsroom.
A Star-Studded Cast Driven by conviction
Park Hae-il plays Jae-hwan, the head of the social affairs desk at Dongseong Daily who refuses to accept the official narrative. Reunited with Director Hur ten years after 덕혜옹주 (The Last Princess), Park anchor the film with a quiet, sharp intensity that eventually boils over into an explosive defense of press freedom.
"It is rare for a Korean film to treat journalists with this level of gravity over a sustained narrative," Park noted. "I approached the role focusing on the universal duty and responsibility of journalism, which remains unchanged even across different generations."
Yoo Hae-jin plays Cheol-goo, a detective from the Jungbu precinct who plunges into the investigation after a colleague is wrongfully dragged away. His character embodies the film's core question, highlighted in a striking late-game sequence where he stands motionless against a sea of waving national flags.
Lee Min-ho portrays Yeong-il, a passionate novice reporter on the frontlines. Lee brings energy to the screen, contrasting with Park's disciplined demeanor while reflecting on modern parallels. "Living in an age where sensational headlines often eclipse reality, I felt a deep nostalgia for unwavering conviction," Lee shared. "I kept that pursuit of truth at the center of my performance."
The project boasts an extraordinary ensemble. Park Jeong-min makes a critical special appearance as shooter Mun Se-gwang, while Jung Woo-sung takes on a pivotal role as corporate titan Han Sang-il. The supporting cast includes Bae Seong-woo, Um Ji-won, Park Ji-hwan, Kim Dae-myung, Ryu Hye-young, Shim Eun-kyung, Park Sung-hoon, Oh Jung-se, and Shin Hyun-been.
Meticulous Period Recreation
Production company Hive Media Corp—the team behind 12.12: The Day and The Man Standing Next—recreated 1970s South Korea down to the finest details. Filming took place in authentic architectural sites from the era, matching the visual texture of vintage film stock.
Set designer Kim Byung-han built a fully immersive newsroom complete with heavy smoke haze and period-accurate props, helping the actors step naturally into the decade.
The Assassins hits theaters nationwide on September 23.
https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2347610
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