Park Chan-wook
Park Chan-wook (박찬욱), born August 23, 1963, in Seoul, is one of the most influential directors in world cinema. In February 2026, he made history as the first Korean appointed jury president of the Cannes Film Festival.
Park developed his love of film watching foreign movies on AFKN broadcasts, later studying philosophy at Sogang University. After two unsuccessful early films, Joint Security Area (2000) became Korea's highest-grossing film, establishing him as a commercial and critical force.
His "Vengeance Trilogy"—Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003), and Lady Vengeance (2005)—cemented his international reputation. Oldboy won the Grand Prix at Cannes and remains on numerous "greatest films" lists worldwide. Quentin Tarantino has championed his work since JSA.
Park's English-language projects include the acclaimed TV adaptation of The Little Drummer Girl (2018) and HBO's The Sympathizer (2024). The Handmaiden (2016) won the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. Decision to Leave (2022) earned him the Best Director prize at Cannes.
His 2025 film No Other Choice, starring Lee Byung-hun and Cha Seung-won, was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. His films are distinguished by meticulous cinematography, black humor, and unflinching exploration of violence and desire.
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No Other Choice premiere 2025 (Wikimedia CC)
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Latest Articles
BTS Turns Oldboy's Iconic Hallway Scene Into a Dance Showcase in the '2.0' Music Video
BTS dropped the music video for “2.0” on April 2, 2026, channeling Park Chan-wook’s cult thriller Oldboy in a dark, stylized corridor sequence where choreography replaces combat. Here’s every reference, the chart numbers, and what it means for the ARIRANG era.
Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice Crosses $10 Million in North America, Heads to MUBI
Park Chan-wook's dark comedy thriller crosses $10M in North America, quadrupling his own record. It hits MUBI streaming on March 13, 2026.
Park Chan-wook Named First South Korean President of Cannes Film Festival Jury
Park Chan-wook will preside over the 79th Cannes Film Festival jury, becoming the first South Korean filmmaker to lead the competition. The Oldboy and Decision to Leave director joins a legacy that includes Bong Joon-ho's historic Palme d'Or win.