Korea Box Office: Anime Feature ‘Chiikawa’ Edges Past ‘The Assassin(s)’ to Claim Weekend Crown
Japanese animated feature "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" claimed the South Korean box office crown over the weekend of 9–11 October by the slimmest margin, edging political thriller "The Assassin(s)" by just 215 admissions. The victory comes amid significant controversy surrounding the domestic rival, which explores a 1974 assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee and has faced legal challenges and public protests over its historical interpretation.
"Chiikawa" earned $3.13 million from 407,895 admissions to claim 29.7% of the weekend market, bringing its cumulative total to $9.9 million since opening on 30 September. "The Assassin(s)" pulled in $3.03 million from 407,680 admissions for 28.78% of the frame, with a cumulative of $21.8 million from 2,992,543 viewers since its 23 September launch. Conservative civic groups and lawmakers have filed defamation complaints over the film's portrayal of potential internal government involvement in the shooting that killed First Lady Yuk Young-soo, prompting protests and forcing cast withdrawals from public appearances. A coalition of 19 Korean film guilds issued a joint statement defending cinematic freedom of expression, whilst Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" became the highest-grossing international release in Korean box office history, reaching $103.1 million.
- Japanese anime narrowly beat controversial Korean political thriller by just 215 tickets
- "The Assassin(s)" faces legal challenges and protests over its portrayal of a 1974 assassination
- Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" becomes highest-grossing international film in Korean box office history
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"Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" is a Japanese animated feature film that has recently become popular in South Korean cinemas. Its main competitor for audience attention is a Korean political thriller called "The Assassin(s)", which deals with a major historical event from 1974.
"The Assassin(s)" explores an assassination attempt on South Korean President Park Chung-hee that resulted in the death of his wife, the First Lady. The film's controversial aspect is how it depicts this event, particularly whether the government itself may have been involved in the shooting. Some people believe the film misrepresents history, whilst others argue that cinema should be free to explore different interpretations of historical events.
This situation reflects a broader debate in South Korean society about how contested historical moments should be remembered and portrayed. The dispute raises questions about artistic freedom, historical accuracy, and how nations should engage with controversial parts of their past.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Defenders of 'The Assassin(s)' argue that artistic freedom must include the right to explore contested historical events, even controversial interpretations. The defamation complaints represent legal intimidation of expression rather than legitimate critique, they contend, and cinema enriches democratic discourse by presenting diverse perspectives on history. If courts and political groups can suppress films because their interpretations prove uncomfortable, artistic freedom itself is undermined.
The case against
Critics argue that presenting speculated or disputed historical claims as dramatised fact crosses from artistic expression into distortion of historical record. They contend that films depicting sensitive state events carry particular responsibility to distinguish between established fact and speculation, especially involving deceased figures and families still affected by trauma. This is not censorship of criticism, but legitimate concern about whether films should present unsubstantiated versions of contested national history.