# Release and box office performance of ‘The Assassin(s)’

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-south-korean-film-the-assassins
> Updated: 2026-09-23T01:08:11.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 5.

The film ‘The Assassin(s)’ (also referred to as ‘Assassins’), directed by Hur Jin-ho, is a political thriller based on the true story of the 1974 assassination attempt on South Korean President Park Chung Hee. The historical event occurred during a live broadcast of a Liberation Day ceremony, resulting in the death of First Lady Yuk Young-soo while the President survived.

The narrative is described as a journalism procedural that follows investigators and reporters as they navigate an authoritarian regime to uncover inconsistencies in the official account of the shooting, including discrepancies in forensic evidence and the number of shots fired. The story shifts from a mystery into a deeper exploration of how truth is recorded and communicated to the world.

The cast includes Lee Min-ho as Young-il, a rookie reporter; Park Hae-il as Jae-hwan, a social affairs editor; and Yoo Hae-jin as senior inspector Cheol-gu. 

Following its release, the film reached the top of the box office, drawing approximately 134,000 viewers on its opening day, August 23. This success occurred during the Chuseok holiday, a period where South Korean viewing habits are shifting as audiences choose between traditional television, OTT platforms, and movie theaters. Co-stars have praised Park Hae-il’s performance, with Yoo Hae-jin comparing his acting presence to ‘a spinning top that maintains its upright energy.’

## Timeline

### 2026-09-23: Assassins film tops box office during Chuseok holiday

The film ‘Assassins’, starring Park Hae-il, debuted at number one at the box office, exploring the 1974 assassination of South Korea’s First Lady amidst changing holiday viewing trends.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/assassins-film-tops-box-office-during-chuseok-holiday

### 2026-09-16: Park Hae-il stars in ‘Assassins’ following four-year hiatus

Actor Park Hae-il returns to cinema in ‘Assassins’, a film by director Heo Jin-ho exploring the 1974 assassination attempt on South Korea's First Lady.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/park-hae-il-stars-in-assassins-following-four-year-hiatus

### 2026-09-13: Lee Min-ho stars in film about 1974 South Korean presidential assassination attempt

Director Hur Jin-ho’s new film “The Assassin(s),” starring Lee Min-ho, dramatizes the 1974 assassination attempt on South Korean President Park Chung Hee.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lee-min-ho-stars-in-film-about-1974-south-korean-presidential-assassination-attempt

### 2026-09-11: Yoo Hae-jin discusses upcoming film ‘Assassins’

Actor Yoo Hae-jin discusses his upcoming film ‘Assassins’, a historical investigation into a 1974 assassination attempt, following the commercial success of ‘The Man Living with the King’.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/yoo-hae-jin-discusses-upcoming-film-assassins

### 2026-09-11: The Assassin(s) film explores 1974 South Korean political assassination

Directed by Hur Jin-ho, “The Assassin(s)” is a political thriller based on the 1974 assassination attempt on South Korean President Park Chung-hee and the journalists who investigated the truth.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/the-assassins-film-explores-1974-south-korean-political-assassination

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Cite as: Release and box office performance of ‘The Assassin(s)’. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-south-korean-film-the-assassins