Lee Byung-hun is standing at a remarkable crossroads in his career. With his performance in No Other Choice, the globally celebrated Korean actor has earned a historic Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, becoming the first Korean actor to be recognized in this category. The nomination is not just a personal milestone, but also a defining moment for Korean cinema on the global stage.
Interestingly, Lee didn’t wake up to the news with fanfare or flashing headlines. He was asleep in Korea when the nominations were announced. A message from a friend was what brought the news to him—almost like a dream within a dream. Lee has described the moment as surreal, joyful, and humbling all at once.
Rather than focusing on winning, Lee has emphasized that the nomination itself is meaningful. For him, acting has never been about competition, but about storytelling, personal growth, and creative fulfillment. Attending the Golden Globes will also be a first for him, and he’s looking forward to sharing the experience with filmmakers and fellow actors he admires from around the world.
A Career Momentum Unlike Any Other
The past few years have been exceptionally productive for Lee Byung-hun. In addition to No Other Choice, he received a Gotham Awards nomination for the same role and lent his voice to the character Gwi-ma in the animated feature KPop Demon Hunters, which also earned major awards attention. On top of that, his involvement in Squid Game continues to cement his international appeal.
Having multiple projects recognized in the same awards season has been both surprising and exciting for the actor. Between filming, promoting, and attending global events, Lee describes the period as intense—but deeply rewarding.
Inside “No Other Choice”: A Darkly Comic Descent
Directed by Park Chan-wook, No Other Choice presents Lee in one of his most layered performances to date. He plays Mansu, a devoted middle-aged manager who has spent 25 years loyally climbing the corporate ladder at a paper manufacturing plant. His dedication provides a stable life for his family—home ownership, security, and even cello lessons for his talented daughter.
That stability collapses when Mansu is laid off after a corporate takeover. The new management claims they had “no other choice,” a phrase that becomes the film’s thematic backbone. With his identity and future suddenly stripped away, Mansu becomes obsessed with landing another job—no matter the cost.
What follows is a descent into moral chaos, as Mansu begins targeting potential rivals in increasingly absurd and darkly comic ways. His carefully laid plans unravel spectacularly, transforming the film into a biting satire about capitalism, masculinity, and desperation.
Comedy Born From Tragedy
Unlike many of Park Chan-wook’s earlier films, No Other Choice leans heavily into comedy—albeit of the darkest kind. Lee has said that knowing how much humor was embedded in the script made him excited to take on the role. He anticipated that the filmmaking process itself would involve a lot of laughter, even as the story tackled deeply unsettling themes.
The film’s brilliance lies in its duality. From the audience’s perspective, Mansu’s actions can seem ridiculous, even laughable. But from inside Mansu’s mind, nothing is funny. He is terrified, humiliated, and desperate. Lee approached the role by fully committing to Mansu’s point of view, refusing to “play for laughs” or exaggerate moments for comedic effect.
By grounding the performance in sincerity, the comedy naturally emerges from the situations themselves—allowing the audience to laugh, cringe, and empathize all at once.
Unlocking Mansu’s Psychology
One of the most revealing moments in the film comes right at the beginning. Mansu hosts a family barbecue at his father’s old house—a home he once lost and proudly managed to buy back. Surrounded by loved ones, pets running freely, and a sense of achievement, Mansu declares that he has “made it.”
This scene, filmed in a demanding long take, establishes everything the audience needs to know. Mansu is a patriarch who defines himself through success and provision. He wants to protect his family, but he is also blind to the cracks forming beneath his version of the “perfect life.” The moment feels almost like an ironic version of the American Dream, foreshadowing the collapse to come.
The scene was one of the most physically exhausting to film, requiring around 30 takes and involving both children and animals—often considered the most unpredictable elements on a set.
Standout Scenes and Emotional High Points
While many viewers point to the infamous music-room sequence as the film’s signature moment—where an attempted murder devolves into absurd chaos—Lee himself highlights another scene as particularly important.
In Mansu’s first job interview, the audience watches him unravel quietly. A throbbing toothache, harsh reflections of light, shaking legs, and forced confidence collide in a single moment. Mansu is uncomfortable, desperate, and performative all at once. The scene perfectly encapsulates his inner turmoil and makes the audience feel trapped inside his anxiety.
Choosing Roles by One Simple Rule
Despite an incredibly diverse filmography, Lee Byung-hun says his decision-making process is surprisingly simple: does the project sound fun?
“Fun,” for him, doesn’t necessarily mean lighthearted. It can be dark, painful, or socially heavy—as long as it stimulates curiosity and emotional engagement. This philosophy explains why his career appears unpredictable, shifting between genres, tones, and formats. Lee isn’t chasing consistency; he’s chasing creative excitement.
Korean Filmmakers to Watch
When asked about emerging Korean directors, Lee points to Yoon Ga-eun, praising her unique cinematic voice and fresh perspective. He believes she brings something new and emotionally resonant to modern filmmaking and is a director audiences should continue to follow closely.
Films That Left an Impression in 2025
Among the films Lee admired most recently were One Battle After Another and Train Dreams. He described Train Dreams as particularly haunting—a film that delivers quiet, persistent emotional pain rather than dramatic peaks, leaving a lasting impression long after it ends.
A Future With Park Chan-wook?
As for working with Park Chan-wook again, Lee’s answer is immediate and enthusiastic. He has expressed deep admiration for the director and a strong desire to collaborate again, signaling that No Other Choice may not be their final partnership.