‘Assassination’: The Korean Blockbuster That Brought a 1933 Independence Struggle to 12 Million Viewers
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A Korean action drama set during the colonial era
South Korean film “Assassination” (Korean title: “Amsal”) follows a fictional mission carried out in 1933, when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. Directed by Choi Dong-hoon, the 2015 action drama moves between Shanghai and Gyeongseong — the former name for Seoul during the colonial period — as independence fighters plan an operation against figures portrayed as collaborators with Japan.
The story centers on three operatives selected by the Korean Provisional Government: Ahn Ok-yoon, a sniper from an independence group in Manchuria; Choo Sang-ok, known as “Fast-Firing Gun”; and Hwang Deok-sam, an explosives expert. After meeting in Shanghai’s French Concession, they travel to Gyeongseong to prepare for their mission targeting businessman Kang In-guk and Japanese military officer General Kawaguchi.
The film also follows the complicated history of Yeom Seok-jin, an independence activist who later becomes a Japanese informant after years of pressure and betrayal. Decades later, he attempts to eliminate the very people carrying out the assassination mission, creating a conflict between independence fighters, a contract killer, and a hidden traitor.
A 10 million-viewer milestone in South Korea
Released on July 22, 2015, “Assassination” became one of South Korea’s major box-office successes, surpassing 10 million admissions on Aug. 15 of that year. It became director Choi Dong-hoon’s second film to reach that milestone after “The Thieves.”
The film stars Jun Ji-hyun as sniper Ahn Ok-yoon, Lee Jung-jae as Yeom Seok-jin and Ha Jung-woo as the assassin-for-hire known as Hawaii Pistol. The supporting cast includes Oh Dal-soo, Cho Jin-woong, Lee Kyoung-young and Choi Deok-moon.
Recognition at major Korean film awards
“Assassination” received multiple awards across acting, production design and technical categories after its release. The film won Best Picture at both the Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards. Jun Ji-hyun received Best Actress at the Grand Bell Awards, while Lee Jung-jae won Best Actor at the Buil Film Awards.
Production designer Ryu Seong-hee was also recognized at several award ceremonies for her work on the film’s visual world, which recreated the atmosphere of 1930s colonial-era Korea.
Recreating 1930s Shanghai and Gyeongseong
Filming took place from August 2014 to January 2015 in locations including Shanghai and several sites in South Korea. The film’s Gyeongseong streets were recreated at Hapcheon Movie Theme Park, while battle scenes involving Japanese forces were filmed at Hwangmaesan Mountain.
The mansion shown at the beginning of the movie was filmed at Baek In-je House, a traditional Korean residence in Seoul’s Jongno district that later opened fully to the public in November 2015.
Historical figures behind the fictional characters
Ahn Ok-yoon was inspired by Nam Ja-hyun, a Korean independence activist from Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang Province, who was known by titles including “the female Ahn Jung-geun” and “mother of the independence army.” Yeom Seok-jin was based on Yeom Dong-jin, a figure associated with the anti-communist organization Baekui-sa.
Through its mix of historical inspiration and fictional action, “Assassination” presents a story about competing choices during one of the most difficult periods in modern Korean history.
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