The film The Assassin(s), directed by Heo Jin-ho, has surpassed its break-even point just one month after its release.
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing system on Friday, The Assassin(s) drew 10,069 viewers on Thursday, securing the third spot at the box office. The movie’s cumulative audience has reached 3,306,283, exceeding the break-even threshold of 3.3 million.
With this achievement, The Assassin(s) successfully crossed its break-even point 30 days after its September 23rd premiere.
The film’s production budget was 16 billion KRW (approximately 12.1 million USD), with total costs, including marketing and promotion expenses of 3 billion KRW (about 2.26 million USD), amounting to 19 billion KRW (around 14.3 million USD). Factoring in overseas sales revenue and domestic distribution rights, the break-even point was estimated at 3.3 million viewers.
The Assassin(s) delves into the suspicions and background surrounding the shocking assassination attempt on South Korea’s First Lady on August 15, 1974. This latest work from acclaimed director Heo Jin-ho, known for Christmas in August, One Fine Spring Day, and The Last Princess, stars Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, and Lee Min Ho in leading roles.
The film previously sparked controversy over alleged historical distortion, primarily due to concerns raised by opposition politicians. It explores lingering questions about the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo, which was officially concluded as the act of a lone gunman, Mun Se-gwang.
Addressing these concerns, the film’s production team issued a statement on September 28, emphasizing that this work is not intended to establish new historical conclusions or to deny or distort existing facts. The film does not designate any specific individual as the mastermind behind the events, nor does it present its hypotheses and dramatic scenarios as historical facts.
