Park Chan Wook, one of Korea’s most acclaimed directors, known for films like Oldboy, Joint Security Area, Lady Vengeance, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave, has been removed from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), sending shockwaves through the industry. The controversy stems from claims that he violated WGA rules during the 2023 strike, which called for a full halt to writing work. Park’s team has denied these claims, but he has not appealed the committee’s decision.
Alongside Park, co-executive producer and co-writer Don McKellar was also removed from the guild in relation to their HBO mini-series, The Sympathizer. A representative from Moho Film clarified that all scripts were completed and filming had started well before the WGA strike began on May 2, 2023. They explained that editing does not count as writing under WGA rules, and during post-production, HBO suggested some changes to certain settings.
Park and McKellar held meetings to discuss whether these changes could be implemented using existing footage. The representatives stressed that no new writing or script revisions were done until after the strike ended. The meetings were framed as creative problem-solving rather than writing, keeping the strike rules in mind.
Adam Levin, commenting for Variety, noted that this decision likely won’t affect Park’s career in the West. He can still write and direct projects without fearing a boycott, though he may have to pay higher retainers. Park has firmly denied the allegations, and the investigation’s outcome remains uncertain. Notably, other major figures like George Clooney, Sylvester Stallone, and George Lucas have left the WGA in the past, showing that such situations, while surprising, are not unprecedented.