The 31st Busan International Film Festival has become a forum for a wider debate about artistic freedom and historical responsibility following controversy surrounding the Korean film “The Assassins.” At a press conference on October 7, competition jury president Zhang Yimou said filmmakers should not be expected to reproduce history literally, while Korean director Jung Joo-ri acknowledged that criticism can make creators more cautious about how they approach real events. The comments came on the second day of the festival, which opened in Busan on October 6 and runs through October 15. Zhang was joined by fellow jury members including director Bi Gan, Jung Joo-ri, actor Samal Yeslyamova, director Kei Ishikawa, producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc and actor Choi Hee-seo. The jury is responsible for evaluating films in BIFF’s main competition section. “The Assassins,” directed by Hur Jin-ho, dramatizes a 1974 shooting involving former first lady Yuk Young-soo and builds a fictional investigation around questions of motive and responsibility.
Since its September 23 release, the film has faced criticism in South Korea from viewers and commentators who argue that its reconstruction of a politically sensitive event distorts history. The controversy has also affected the film’s public appearances. The production team canceled planned Busan festival events, including the opening-ceremony appearance and outdoor stage greeting, after concerns were raised about the safety of cast and crew. The festival has said it respected the production company’s decision. Some other related appearances were also canceled, although the precise reasons for individual schedule changes have not always been publicly confirmed.
Jung, whose film “Next Sohee” was inspired by real social events, said filmmakers still have room to create fictional characters and situations, but must recognize that audiences connected to the source material may be hurt by what they see. Zhang, who said he had not watched “The Assassins,” similarly argued that cinema is an artistic form rather than a direct substitute for historical documentation, while noting that audiences are entitled to debate what constitutes historical truth. The discussion gives international viewers a useful lens on why the controversy has resonated so strongly in Korea. The film touches on a traumatic period in the country’s modern political history, while BIFF is simultaneously presenting itself as a space for artistic exchange across Asia. The festival’s 31st edition is being held at the Busan Cinema Center and other venues, with screenings and events continuing through October 15.