★★★★★ (5 out of 5 stars)
When a government controls the official story, discovering the truth becomes an act of rebellion. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can be silenced, and people asking reasonable questions can suddenly be treated like enemies. However, the truth does not stop existing simply because powerful individuals refuse to acknowledge it. It remains hidden beneath the surface, waiting for someone courageous enough to uncover it.
Directed by Hur Jin-ho, The Assassin(s) is an incredibly suspenseful and nail-biting political thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Based on the attempted assassination of South Korean President Park Chung-hee, the film explores not only who fired the gun, but also whether a much larger conspiracy was hidden behind the attack.
On August 15, 1974, gunshots are fired while President Park delivers his speech during the 29th Liberation Day ceremony. The president survives, but First Lady Yuk Young-soo and a young girl are killed. Mun Se-gwang, a Korean Japanese man, is quickly arrested and identified as the assassin. Yet the official explanation immediately begins to fall apart.
Six shots were reportedly fired, even though Mun’s pistol could only carry five bullets. More disturbingly, the bullet that struck the First Lady was never examined. It is difficult to imagine why such a crucial piece of evidence would be ignored during an investigation unless someone did not want to know where it came from. These inconsistencies lead investigators to question whether Mun acted alone or whether another shooter was present.
Kim Jae-hwan, a determined journalist, becomes one of the people unwilling to accept the official version of events. Alongside police officers and other members of the press, he continues asking questions despite being warned to leave the case alone. Every attempt to uncover the truth brings new threats, and anyone who challenges the government’s explanation risks being accused of supporting communism.
The film becomes even more fascinating as the Korean and Japanese accounts begin to contradict each other. Statements, evidence, and timelines do not align, making it increasingly difficult to determine who is lying and who is being forced to remain silent. Hur Jin-ho carefully reveals each inconsistency without giving the audience an easy answer.
As the investigation progresses, viewers are invited to become investigators themselves. You begin studying every detail, questioning every statement, and attempting to connect the evidence alongside the characters. The film does not allow its audience to remain passive. It pulls you directly into the conspiracy and makes you desperate to understand what actually happened.
The writing and direction are outstanding. Despite its 131-minute running time, the film never feels unnecessarily long. Its detailed procedural approach allows the mystery to grow naturally, while the multiple characters and investigative paths make the story feel larger and more dangerous. The performances are equally powerful, with the cast bringing urgency and authenticity to every confrontation.
The final 15 minutes are absolutely pulse-pounding. Hur Jin-ho builds the tension to an almost unbearable level, delivering a conclusion that is intense, frightening, and impossible to look away from. By that point, the audience is no longer simply watching an investigation—we are emotionally trapped inside it.
It is best to watch The Assassin(s) without researching the real historical case beforehand. Knowing too much may take away from the film’s carefully constructed mystery. Go into it with as little information as possible, allow every contradiction to surprise you, and experience each revelation as the characters do.
The Assassin(s) is a gripping political thriller about courage, corruption, and the dangerous price of pursuing the truth. It reminds us that a free press is essential because when governments are permitted to control every version of a story, history itself can become another piece of manufactured evidence.