The Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) stated on the 3rd that there were no external requests when investing in the film 'Assassins'.

IBK explained that it decided on the investment through its own review process, while KDB stated that it merely invested in a fund indirectly and did not interfere with the investment decisions made independently by the asset management company.

In an official statement, IBK explained, "The investment proceeded through the dedicated department's review in the same manner as existing procedures, and the final decision was made in accordance with internal criteria after comprehensively reviewing various factors such as the production company's production capabilities, the competitiveness of the director and cast, and business viability."

It added, "Suspicions that the investment was decided through external requests or abnormal channels are contrary to the facts."

On the same day, KDB stated in a statement titled 'The Korea Development Bank Was Not Involved in the Investment in the Film "Assassins"', "The investment entity is not KDB but the 'OOO Fund', and the relevant investment decision was independently carried out by S Company, which manages the fund."

KDB emphasized, "Investment decisions and post-management for individual investment cases of a fund are the asset manager's inherent tasks and must be performed independently, and we inform you that KDB cannot interfere in the investment decision-making process."

In particular, it stated, "KDB has never been involved in the selection of the investment target and investment decision for the film 'Assassins', and claims that the investment was decided by external requests or intervention are contrary to the facts."

Previously, on the 30th of last month, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo revealed related data, stating that it was confirmed that policy banks invested more than 30 billion won in the film 'Assassins'.

According to the data, IBK invested 2 billion won and KDB 400 million won, respectively, in the film. It was tallied that 14.25 billion won from a fund participated in by IBK and 14 billion won from a fund participated in by KDB were invested, respectively, in the film's production company, 'Hive Media Corp'.

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]