On August 15, 1974, a shooting incident targeting President Park Chung-hee occurred at the National Theater in Jangchung-dong, Seoul. The incident became a spark for Korea-Japan diplomatic tensions and left numerous questions surrounding its mastermind and circumstances. The perpetrator, Mun Se-gwang, committed the crime using a handgun stolen from a Japanese police station and a Japanese passport under someone else's name before being arrested at the scene. The Korean government immediately identified North Korea and Chongryon as being behind the incident, but questions continued to be raised through the press on multiple fronts, including the number of gunshots fired, ballistic analysis, and the security and initial investigation processes.

Building on these unresolved questions, director Hur Jin-ho presents his new film 'The Assassin(s).' Rather than simply recreating a historical event, it is a mystery thriller that delves into the gap between official investigation results and the actual circumstances of the scene through cinematic imagination. Director Hur revealed that he had been conceptualizing the film for ten years and completed it after deeply contemplating the survival of the real-life figures involved and the tragic nature of the incident. He noted that while the August 15 sniper incident has been covered in several documentaries, this is its first cinematic adaptation, and he believed the aspects that remain mysterious could serve as compelling film material. He also emphasized that he prioritized cinematic balance and objectivity.

While based on the actual event, the characters and specific narrative in the film are works of fiction. Director Hur created the detective and reporter characters by combining traits of real individuals who were present at the scene. The three main characters are Chul-gu, a detective inspector at the Jungbu Police Station; Jae-hwan, a newspaper society desk editor; and Young-il, a rookie reporter. Chul-gu is a man driven by strong patriotism and a love for the national flag who personally pursues the truth after confronting a reality that contradicts everything he has believed. Jae-hwan is a journalist who chases down the suspicions surrounding the case with cool judgment and insight.

Park Hae-il takes on the role of Jae-hwan, reuniting with director Hur Jin-ho for the first time in ten years since 'The Last Princess.' Director Hur said he naturally thought of Park Hae-il while writing the script. On set, Park Hae-il led the younger actors like a true leader, and reportedly visited the set to watch Lee Min-ho's acting even on days when he had no scenes of his own. Lee Min-ho's character, Young-il, grew up in an affluent environment but harbors a strong sense of duty and a yearning for freedom as a journalist. Lee Min-ho described the character as energetic with an innate sense of longing, and shared that he was able to deeply immerse himself in Park Hae-il's dialogue during his very first scene at a payphone.

Meanwhile, Yoo Hae-jin and Park Hae-il reunited for the first time in 16 years since the film 'Moss.' Yoo Hae-jin highly praised the energy radiating from Park Hae-il's gaze, and Park Hae-il likewise noted that Yoo Hae-jin is an actor who adds a sense of realism to any work regardless of the era. Lee Min-ho stated that the experience of acting alongside the two veterans brought him great stability and joy.

'The Assassin(s)' is produced by Hive MediaCorp, the production company behind films such as '12.12: The Day' and 'Inside Men.' The film will first premiere in the Gala Presentation section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival in September before being released to domestic audiences during the Chuseok holiday.