Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho pull out of BIFF as political controversy hits 31st edition

Red carpet pulled before it started

The 31st Busan International Film Festival opened under strain. Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho, stars of the year's top-grossing film Assassin(s), cancelled their red carpet appearance after sustained political attacks raised safety concerns for audiences and attendees. Director Huh Jin-ho was set to greet fans alongside Yoo, Lee, and Park Hae-il on an outdoor stage. That event was scrapped too.

Yoo Hae-jin pulled out entirely. His whole Busan schedule went, including a Best Actor nomination at the 35th Buil Film Awards for A Man Living with the King.

A milestone edition, a messy opening

The timing stings. This BIFF is the first since the festival earned A-list status—a rank it now shares with Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. The Korean film industry had chased that recognition for years. Instead, the opening ceremony sat under a shadow when it should have been clean celebration.

People on the ground disagreed on what happened. Choi Jae-hoon, a Busan Dong-gu resident, thought the cast should have shown. "It is about the sense of responsibility and attitude as a film actor," he said. Park Yong-seok from Busan Saha-gu saw it differently: "There is much controversy, but that is separate from this. The film festival should be held."

Executive Director Jung Han-seok spoke to the moment directly. "A film festival is fundamentally both a domestic and international event and a cultural and democratic event that many people should enjoy," he said. He framed it as a chance "to reconsider many things."

The A-list upgrade was supposed to be the story this week. It wasn't.