Four days before the 31st Busan International Film Festival opens, the biggest Korean film in theaters right now has removed itself from the programme. On Oct. 2, 2026, the team behind Hur Jin-ho's "The Assassin(s)" said it would not appear at BIFF at all.
Why did 'The Assassin(s)' cast pull out of BIFF 2026?
The cast and director of "The Assassin(s)" withdrew from BIFF 2026 because their production company said it could not guarantee the safety of audiences and guests. Hive Media Corp. announced on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 that director Hur Jin-ho and the film's leads would skip both the festival's opening ceremony and the Outdoor Stage Greeting set for Oct. 7, after what it called careful review of "the current situation surrounding the film" . The 31st edition of the festival runs Oct. 6–15, 2026 in Busan .
Quick Answer: Hive Media Corp. said on Oct. 2, 2026 that the "The Assassin(s)" team would skip the 31st Busan International Film Festival (Oct. 6–15) entirely, citing audience and guest safety amid a political backlash over the film. Director Hur Jin-ho, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho were all scheduled to attend.
The statement named no specific threat. In the full text released to Korean media, the company wrote: "After careful consideration and taking into account the safety of audiences and attendees, we have decided not to participate in the Busan International Film Festival Opening Ceremony or the Outdoor Stage Greeting scheduled for October 7. After carefully reviewing the current situation surrounding the film, we made this decision to ensure everyone's safety and allow the event to proceed smoothly" — Hive Media Corp., production company for "The Assassin(s)" (source: Soompi, 2026-10). The Korea Times carried the same core line.
Here is what came off the schedule, and who was attached to it:
- Opening ceremony — The Korea Herald reports the director and leads had been set to attend the Tuesday ceremony, with the fan-facing outdoor stage event "the next day" ; Hive's own statement groups both items under Oct. 7 .
- Outdoor Stage Greeting, Oct. 7 — the lineup was director Hur Jin-ho with actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho .
- What it follows — the announcement came a day after Lee Min-ho pulled out of a festival talk session, per The Korea Herald.
The film itself is still in release. "The Assassin(s)" opened in Korean theaters on Sept. 23, 2026 after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 16 , and has drawn political and legal pressure for suggesting that a former president or intelligence authorities may have been involved in a first lady's death .
Timeline: three cancellations in three days
Three separate cancellations hit "The Assassin(s)" between Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, 2026, and they came from three different parties — the festival, a regional film body, and the film's own production company. BIFF scrapped a Lee Min-ho talk session, the Busan Film Commission pulled a free public screening, and Hive Media Corp. then withdrew the entire team from the festival's marquee events . Each notice gave a different reason, and none of them named the controversy directly.
The first was the Lee Min-ho session. Lee had been scheduled to meet fans for about an hour at the Culture Hall of Shinsegae Department Store's Centum City branch at 6:50 p.m. on Oct. 7 , but BIFF said through its official channels on Oct. 1 that "Actors House: Lee Min-ho" was cancelled "due to unavoidable circumstances," with no specific reason disclosed . His agency, MYM Entertainment, confirmed he would be unable to participate and apologized to fans (Gulf News).
The second came from the Busan Film Commission, which cancelled a free public screening scheduled for Oct. 5 — the day before the festival opens . The Korea Herald reports the same screening as cancelled but attributes that call to the production company rather than naming the commission . Unlike BIFF, the commission explained itself and drew a line around what the decision meant:
"After comprehensively reviewing recent circumstances surrounding the work and diverse citizen opinions, we reluctantly decided to cancel," the Busan Film Commission said, adding that "this decision does not signify judgment on, or endorsement of, the work's content." (source: Sports Khan, 2026-10)
The third closed the door on the festival entirely. On Oct. 2, Hive Media Corp. said it would not take part in the opening ceremony or the Outdoor Stage Greeting, citing the safety of audiences and attendees . That greeting was to have put director Hur Jin-ho on stage with Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho .
One date detail is worth flagging, because sources differ. The Korea Herald reports the director and leads had been set to attend the Tuesday opening ceremony — Oct. 6 — and to meet fans at an outdoor stage event "the next day," while Hive's own statement and Korean outlets group both items under Oct. 7 . The practical effect is the same either way: nothing from the film's team appears on the festival's first two days.
| Date (2026) | Cancelled event | Announced by | Stated reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | "Actors House: Lee Min-ho," Oct. 7, 6:50 p.m., Shinsegae Centum City Culture Hall | BIFF (confirmed by MYM Entertainment) | "Unavoidable circumstances"; no reason disclosed |
| Oct. 1 | Free public screening, Oct. 5 | Busan Film Commission | "Recent circumstances surrounding the work and diverse citizen opinions" |
| Oct. 2 | BIFF opening ceremony and Outdoor Stage Greeting | Hive Media Corp. | Safety of audiences and attendees |
Read in sequence, the three notices moved from a single actor's talk to a public screening to the film's whole delegation in under 48 hours — and the backlash online shifted with them, from questions about Lee Min-ho's absence to comments on BIFF's account asking "At this point isn't this censorship?" .
What's driving the backlash against 'The Assassin(s)'
The backlash centers on how the film reconstructs a real political killing. "The Assassin(s)" dramatizes the Aug. 15, 1974 shooting at a Liberation Day ceremony in Seoul, where a gunman opened fire on President Park Chung-hee and fatally wounded first lady Yuk Young-soo instead (framing per The Korea Herald). Critics say the 131-minute thriller implies a former president or intelligence authorities may have had a hand in her death — a reading the production rejects .
The pressure arrived from political figures and the courts at the same time. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok accused the production of distorting historical facts and shared a boycott post, and former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Lee Jong-bae filed a police complaint against director Hur Jin-ho and the production team alleging defamation . Neither action has produced a ruling; what they did produce was a window in which every public appearance tied to the film became a potential flashpoint.
Hive Media Corp. answered on Sept. 28, describing the film as a fictionalized reconstruction built on historical records rather than an attempt to settle the historical question . Its position, as reported by Sports Khan and Wikipedia's entry on the film, was that the work was made without a political agenda, denies no established facts, and names no individual as the mastermind.
The Busan Film Commission used similar language when it pulled the free Oct. 5 screening, and the phrasing is worth reading closely because it separates the safety call from any verdict on the film:
"After comprehensively reviewing recent circumstances surrounding the work and diverse citizen opinions, we reluctantly decided to cancel… this decision does not signify judgment on, or endorsement of, the work's content," — Busan Film Commission statement (source: Sports Khan, 2026-10).
For the cast, the consequences landed in brand deals rather than reviews. Kiwoom Securities halted advertising featuring Yoo Hae-jin, who plays police superintendent Park Cheol-gu, and a fast-food chain he endorses disabled comments on its social media accounts as boycott calls spread; a conservative civic group said it planned rallies outside his home . That last item is the detail that makes Hive's "safety of audiences and attendees" wording read as literal rather than diplomatic.
The commercial picture is mixed rather than collapsed. The film passed 1 million admissions within three to four days of its Sept. 23 opening and stood at 1,821,963 admissions and roughly US$13.2 million gross, but it lost the box-office lead during the controversy and drew 55,018 admissions on Thursday, Oct. 1 . It is still selling tickets; what it has lost is the promotional runway a festival slot would normally provide.
What still happens at BIFF this week — and what's off the schedule
Three items tied to "The Assassin(s)" are off the 31st Busan International Film Festival calendar, while the film's own screenings remain in the program. Cancelled are the Oct. 5 free public screening organised by the Busan Film Commission, the "Actors House: Lee Min-ho" session that had been set for Oct. 7 at 6:50 p.m. at the Shinsegae Centum City Culture Hall , and the cast's appearances at the opening ceremony and the Outdoor Stage Greeting . The festival itself runs Oct. 6–15, 2026 .
What falls away is the part fans travel for — the red carpet, the stage greeting, the talk session. The Outdoor Stage Greeting had been built around director Hur Jin-ho with Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho together on one stage . Note the scheduling split across sources: the Korea Herald places the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 6 with the outdoor fan event the following day , while Hive Media Corp.'s own statement groups both under Oct. 7 .
Practical notes for fans with plans in Busan this week:
- Actors House ticket holders: BIFF announced the cancellation on Oct. 1 via its official channels, citing "unavoidable circumstances" without disclosing a reason . Watch BIFF's official channels for refund or rescheduling notices, and MYM Entertainment — Lee Min-ho's agency, which confirmed he could not participate and apologised to fans — for any replacement appearance .
- The Oct. 5 free screening: cancelled by the Busan Film Commission, which said it "reluctantly decided to cancel" after reviewing recent circumstances and citizen opinions, adding that the move "does not signify judgment on, or endorsement of, the work's content" .
- Screenings: the film remains in the program. The cast pullout covers promotional appearances, not the 131-minute feature itself, so check BIFF's published screening schedule for showtimes rather than assuming the title has been withdrawn .
The cancellations have not been read quietly. Comments flooded BIFF's official account asking "At this point isn't this censorship?", and similar accusations followed the free-screening decision . Organisers have held to the position that pulling an event is a logistics-and-safety call, not a verdict on the film — the Busan Film Commission's phrasing was explicit on that point, and Hive Media framed its own withdrawal as a step taken so the festival could "proceed smoothly" . For a festival audience, the net effect is a program that still shows the work but no longer puts its makers in front of a microphone.
Where fans can still see the cast or watch the film
Fans who wanted a face-to-face moment with the cast still have one route left this weekend: second-week stage greetings in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province on Oct. 3–4, 2026 were reported to be proceeding with director Hur Jin-ho and leads Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho . Supporting actors Ryu Hye-young, Jang Ryul and Choi Yu-ri withdrew from those appearances, so the line-up on stage is thinner than originally billed . Anyone holding a ticket should check the cinema chain's app on the day, since the Busan cancellations were all announced within 24–48 hours of the scheduled events.
The film itself remains in general release. "The Assassin(s)" is a 131-minute political thriller that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 16, 2026 and opened in Korean theaters on Sept. 23, 2026 . None of the withdrawals touched distribution — what was pulled were promotional appearances and one free outdoor screening, not the theatrical run itself, and the Busan Film Commission said its own cancellation carried no judgment on the work's content .
The box-office picture shows both the early momentum and the cost of the dispute. The film had recorded 1,821,963 admissions and roughly US$13.2 million in gross receipts as of early October, with 55,018 admissions on Thursday, Oct. 1 alone . It crossed 1 million viewers within three to four days of opening, then lost the daily box-office lead as the controversy escalated . For context, that pace means roughly 800,000 of its admissions came after the first week, so the drop is a loss of the top spot rather than a collapse in attendance.
For international fans without a Korea trip booked, there is no announced streaming or VOD date yet. Korean theatrical releases of this scale typically move to domestic VOD platforms and then to international services after the cinema window closes, and the practical step is to watch for distributor and festival announcements rather than fan-forum rumours. Hive Media Corp. has issued its statements through Korean entertainment media and its own channels, which is where a release-window notice would appear first . Festival circuits are the other possibility: the Toronto premiere confirms the film is being positioned for international programming, so overseas screenings at Korean film showcases are a realistic path before any home-viewing release .
How to follow the story as a fan without adding to the pressure
The practical rule for fans following this story is to keep the historical-accuracy argument separate from the people involved, because personal targeting has already produced real-world consequences. Kiwoom Securities halted advertising featuring Yoo Hae-jin, a fast-food chain he endorses disabled social-media comments amid boycott calls, and a conservative civic group said it planned rallies outside Yoo's home . Commentary that moves from the film to an individual actor's home address or endorsement deals feeds that escalation rather than the debate about what the film depicts.
It also helps to read the cancellations for what the organisers said they were. The Busan Film Commission, cancelling the free Oct. 5 screening, stated that "this decision does not signify judgment on, or endorsement of, the work's content" . Hive Media Corp. framed its own withdrawal from the opening ceremony and the Oct. 7 Outdoor Stage Greeting around "the safety of audiences and attendees" . Neither is a ruling on the 1974 depiction, and neither is the censorship verdict that some commenters on BIFF's official account have read into it .
If you are travelling to BIFF 2026 between Oct. 6 and Oct. 15, treat same-day official updates as the only reliable schedule . Three cancellations landed across three days, and the "Actors House: Lee Min-ho" session at Shinsegae Centum City Culture Hall was pulled roughly a week before its Oct. 7 slot . Check BIFF's official channels before leaving for any venue tied to the film, not after arriving.
- Refunds and ticket status: contact BIFF's official box office channels, or the relevant agency — MYM Entertainment handled Lee Min-ho's withdrawal notice directly . Do not act on fan-account screenshots.
- Schedule changes: verify against BIFF's own posts before amplifying; the Oct. 3–4 Seoul and Gyeonggi stage greetings were still proceeding even as festival events fell away .
- Discussing the film: Hive's Sept. 28 position — a fictionalised reconstruction based on historical records, naming no individual as mastermind — is the production's stated claim, and quoting it accurately is more useful than paraphrasing it .
The concrete takeaway: the film is still in theatres, having drawn 1,821,963 admissions as of early October , so the most direct way to form your own view is to watch it and argue about the 131-minute film itself rather than about the people who appear in it.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the 'The Assassin(s)' cast pull out of BIFF 2026?
Production company Hive Media Corp. announced on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 that the film's team would not take part in the Busan International Film Festival, citing the safety of audiences and attendees . The statement covers the opening ceremony and the Outdoor Stage Greeting that Hive dates to Oct. 7, and says the decision was made "after carefully reviewing the current situation surrounding the film" so the event could "proceed smoothly" . The backdrop is the dispute over the film's framing of the Aug. 15, 1974 shooting in which first lady Yuk Young-soo was fatally wounded, which per The Korea Herald has drawn boycott calls and a police complaint against director Hur Jin-ho and the production team .
Is 'The Assassin(s)' still screening at BIFF 2026?
What was cancelled are promotional appearances and one pre-festival event, not the same thing as the festival programme itself. Hive Media's Oct. 2 notice withdraws the team from the opening ceremony and the Outdoor Stage Greeting , and the Busan Film Commission separately cancelled a free public screening set for Oct. 5, the day before the festival opens . Neither announcement is a statement about ticketed festival screenings during the Oct. 6–15 run, and no source in this reporting confirms a change to them . Check BIFF's official schedule and ticketing channels before travelling for any specific title, since the situation has been changing day to day.
Why was Lee Min-ho's 'Actors House' event cancelled?
Lee had been scheduled to meet fans at the Culture Hall of Shinsegae Department Store's Centum City branch at 6:50 p.m. on Oct. 7 , but BIFF announced on Oct. 1, 2026 through its official channels that "Actors House: Lee Min-ho" was cancelled "due to unavoidable circumstances," without disclosing a specific reason . His agency MYM Entertainment confirmed he would be unable to participate and apologised to fans . That cancellation came one day before Hive Media's wider withdrawal, and comments on BIFF's official account questioned the move, with some asking "At this point isn't this censorship?" . Lee plays a rookie reporter digging into the case, per The Korea Herald.
Where can international fans watch 'The Assassin(s)'?
The 131-minute film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 16, 2026 and opened in Korean theatres on Sept. 23, 2026 . Korea is currently the only confirmed theatrical market in the available reporting, and there is no confirmed international streaming or VOD date yet — so festival circuit screenings and distributor announcements are the realistic route for fans outside Korea. Watch for official notices from Hive Media Corp. and local distributors rather than aggregator listings, which have repeatedly carried unconfirmed dates during this period. As of early October the film had drawn 1,821,963 admissions and roughly US$13.2 million, with 55,018 admissions on Thursday, Oct. 1 .
Will the cast still appear anywhere during BIFF week?
Yes — outside Busan. Second-week stage greetings in Seoul and Gyeonggi on Oct. 3–4, 2026 were reported to be going ahead with director Hur Jin-ho and actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho, even as supporting actors Ryu Hye-young, Jang Ryul and Choi Yu-ri withdrew . The Busan-side events — the opening ceremony, the Oct. 7 Outdoor Stage Greeting, the Lee Min-ho talk session and the Oct. 5 free public screening — are all off . Appearance schedules have been revised within 24 hours more than once during this stretch, so confirm each stage greeting with the individual cinema chain on the day rather than relying on earlier listings.
Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to get new stories by email whenever they're published.
This article was written using information collected and analyzed by NAMANE's in-house K-pop research AI engine. We use AI technology to bring you faster, broader coverage, and in the process some details may occasionally differ from the latest facts. For important information such as dates, venues, and prices, please double-check with official sources.
