Recently, the movie "Assassins" which tells the story of the assassination of Park Chung-hee, the former President of South Korea, and his wife, Lee Eung-soo, caused controversy. The conservative camp accused the film of distorting history.
According to a report by the South Korean 'Chungang Daily' on October 2, former President Park Geun-hye revealed a letter written to her by her father, Park Chung-hee, through her confidant and GNP Party member Yoo Myung-sa.
On that day, in Yeouido, Seoul, Yoo Rong-sa announced the photocopy of a letter written by Park Chung-hee to Park Geun-hye two days after Lee Young-sook's death, on August 17, 1974.
In his letter, Park Jung-hui said to Park Geun-hye, "It was that sinful bullet from your father that your mother took for me." He also said, "I have thought more than once how nice it would be if it were me who was shot, and your mother could survive."
On August 15, 1974, Park Chung-hee was shot during a commemorative ceremony for the Liberation Day in Seoul. The shooter was Bok Chul-mun, a Korean diaspora figure living in Japan and Korea. Park Chung-hee himself was not injured, but Lu Yeong-su was shot and later died from his injuries. This incident became a significant event in the history of modern Korean politics.
Park Jung-hee said, "Your mother was shot instead of me, and she entrusted all of your responsibilities, as well as the responsibilities of this entire country, to your father." He also added, "At first, my father also felt like the sky had fallen. He really couldn't calm down. But thinking that his father must take the lead in staying strong, he decided to endure and bear everything from now on. You too, please relax and try to endure as much as you can."
At that time, Park Geun-hye was only 22 years old. Park Chung-hee told her, "From now on, you must take on this role for your mother." He also promised, "Even though my father cannot be like his mother, I will do everything possible to become a good father."
"As soon as I thought of her returning in ten hours, Jin Hui was coming back. I felt like years had passed when we were waiting, however one glance into the darkness revealed only my father standing at the threshold welcoming you." Park Zhengxi wrote.
Source photo: Park Chung-hee and his wife Lu Yingxiu. Photo provided by Korean media.
According to Liu Rongxia, this letter was received by Park Geun-hye, who was studying in France at that time, on her way back home due to the assassination of her mother.
Liu Rongxia said, 'Former President Park Geun-hye, who was studying in France at that time, learned from the embassy that 'her mother had an accident and she needed to return home'. While waiting for her flight at the airport, she read the report about her mother's assassination in a French newspaper.'
He also added, "There were no direct flights at that time, and she had to transfer in Tokyo before returning to Korea. It is said that she cried all the way to the Tokyo airport, shedding all her tears in that journey. At the airport, her sister Park Geum-lim handed her a letter from her father, and it was then that she read this letter."
Liu Rongxia said, 'Former President Park Geun-hye never made this letter public and has kept it hidden until now.' She also stated that 'this letter will serve as a heavy hammer to correct the left-wing attempts to distort history, spreading biased conspiracy theories like a plague.'
Additionally, he demanded that the director and production team of the movie 'Assassins' "apologize for distorting history and harming the reputation of the late President Park Chung-hee, and publicly apologize to the affected survivors and citizens." They must also take a responsible attitude, including suspending the screening of the movie."
"Assassins" is directed by South Korean director Hwang Jeong-ho, starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-ji, and Lee Min-ho. The film premiered on September 23. Set against the backdrop of the assassination attempt on Lu Yingxiu in 1974, the movie incorporates fictional characters and plots based on real historical figures and events. It follows detectives and journalists as they investigate the mysteries behind the case.
The assassins did not follow a completely traditional official narrative. Some characters in the film proposed this possibility: whether the shooting incident of the past still had other hidden forces involved, even possibly involving President Park and/or the South Korean Central Intelligence Agency.
This very treatment triggered strong backlash from conservative factions in South Korea.
Just as the debate over "historical distortion" grew more intense, "China Capital" took a stand (i.e., was put in a compromising situation).
On September 28, Joo Jin-wu, a member of the National Power Party, suggested in his own program that the production company behind the film might be associated with Chinese capital. He also mentioned that some media reports indicated investments from Chinese capital worth approximately 400 billion Korean won. He further suggested that it should be investigated during national political scrutiny to determine whether Chinese capital could influence film production through its investments.
On September 29th, the production company responded positively to this issue, stating clearly that “there was no Chinese capital involved in the production and investment of the film ‘Assassins’.”
The production company stated that the film was produced under the leadership of a South Korean team and creators, with independent planning and production by South Korean domestic capital. They also mentioned that the investment and production funds are “facts that can be objectively confirmed.” They expressed hope that information inconsistent with these facts will not be further spread.
