"The Assassins" Sets Chuseok Release With First Look Posters

Korean mystery thriller "The Assassins," directed by Hur Jin-ho, has locked in a Chuseok release and unveiled two launch posters. The film stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho in a story that digs into the assassination attempt on South Korea's first lady on August 15, 1974. The plot follows three men chasing the truth behind a case still tangled in lingering questions and incomplete records.

The film is set in the aftermath of the shooting, which unfolded on Liberation Day and was broadcast live across the country. It uses cinematic imagination to explore the suspicions and possible figures behind the incident. It is the first feature-length film to take on the case directly. Hur, known for "Christmas in August," "The Last Princess" and "Forbidden Dream," directs.

Yoo Hae-jin plays Cheol-gu, a detective assigned to on-site security the day of the shooting. He has already anchored five films that crossed 10 million admissions in South Korea, including this year's earlier hit "The King's Warden," directed by Jang Hang-jun. Here, his Cheol-gu starts to doubt the official investigation after what he witnessed at the scene clashes with the task force's public findings. He follows a detective's instincts deeper into the case, and is expected to serve as the film's center of gravity.

Park Hae-il plays Jae-hwan, the social affairs editor at a newspaper. Jae-hwan is a veteran journalist who keeps chasing the truth even as outside pressure mounts. The role leans on his sense of professional duty and sharp read on people, showing a reporter who pushes closer to the facts no matter how hard the pushback gets.

Lee Min-ho plays Yeong-il, a rookie reporter covering the scene. Yeong-il keeps reporting at real personal risk in order to bring the truth to light.

The film is produced by Hive Media Corp., the company behind "12.12: The Day" and "The Man Standing Next." The crew also includes cinematographer Lee Mo-gae and lighting director Lee Sung-hwan, both of "12.12: The Day," "Exhuma" and "Hunt," along with art director Kim Byung-han and VFX supervisor Jung Jae-hoon.

The newly released launch posters carry the line "August 15, 1974, the assassination attempt on the first lady," paired with an image of a hand gripping a pistol against a black-and-white stage. The plural in the Korean title, which translates as "The Assassin(s)," hints at the multiple suspicions that still sit behind the official record.

"The Assassins" is set to open in South Korea during this year's Chuseok holiday.