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South Korean film “Assassination,” which is setting a fresh record at the box office, has been dragged into a plagiarism dispute as a local novelist has filed a lawsuit.

The Seoul Central District Court said Wednesday that novelist Choi Jong-rim, 64, alleged that “Assassination” had lifted content from his novel titled “Korean Memories,” published in 2003 and reprinted on Aug. 4.

Choi argued that the film’s female lead character and the plotline involving independence movement leader Kim Koo’s dispatch of assassins against Japanese officials and pro-Japanese groups have been borrowed from his novel without permission.

(Showbox)

The novelist filed the suit against film director Choi Dong-hoon, production company Caper Film and distributor Showbox on Monday, seeking 10 billion won in damages,

The writer also requested an injunction against the movie. A court hearing concerning injunction has been set for Thursday.

Caper Film denied the writer’s claims, saying the female protagonist in the novel “Korean Memories” works in the control room and as a delivery girl, far from the sniper in “Assassination,” a character played by actress Jun Ji-hyun.

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Caper Film also contended that assassination is a method frequently used by independence fighters during the Japanese colonial era, and cannot be defined as an individual‘s brainchild.

“Assassination,” released on July 22, has garnered over 9.3 million viewers as of Aug. 11. Local media are closely watching the box office performance of the film, especially as to whether its viewership will surpass the 10 million mark by the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

Related article: Japanese media says ‘Assassination’ glorifies terrorism