Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice,’ Headlined by ‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Byung-hun, to Open 30th Busan International Film Festival

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has selected Korean auteur Park Chan-wook‘s “No Other Choice” as its opening film, marking the acclaimed director’s return to the big screen three years after “Decision to Leave” (2022) for which he won best director at Cannes.

The film stars Lee Byung-hun (“Squid Game”) as Man-su, a man whose comfortable life unravels when he’s suddenly dismissed from his job, forcing him into a desperate struggle to protect his wife Miri (Son Yejin), their two children, and their home. The story follows Man-su as he embarks on what the festival describes as “his own war of survival.”

Lee, who will also serve as host of this year’s opening ceremony, teams with Son Yejin for their first on-screen pairing as a married couple. The cast also includes Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won.

Park described the project as a “long-awaited passion project” at BIFF 2019, and the film will receive its Asian premiere in Busan, following its world premiere at Venice.

“I am deeply moved and excited to experience the premiere of Park Chan-wook’s desired project alongside diverse audiences on the festival’s opening day,” said BIFF festival director Jung Hanseok. “I sincerely hope that its selection will build meaningful momentum to garner greater attention and foster renewed interest in Korean cinema.”

The selection comes at a significant moment for Korean cinema, with BIFF positioning the film as one that “embodies what audiences most hope to see” and can “reinvigorate Korean cinema at this pivotal moment.”

Park made his directorial debut with “The Moon Is… the Sun’s Dream” (1992) and went on to create groundbreaking works including “Joint Security Area” (2000), the Vengeance trilogy (“Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance,” “Oldboy,” “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”), “Thirst” (2009), “The Handmaiden” (2016), and “Decision to Leave” (2022).

The director has been invited to the Cannes competition section four times and has been honored with the Grand Prix, Prix du Jury, and Prix de la mise en scène, making him the first Korean director to achieve all three distinctions.

The 30th Busan International Film Festival runs Sept. 17-26, with the 20th Asian Contents & Film Market taking place Sept. 20-23.