'Oldboy' Director Park Chan-Wook was suspended from Writers Guild of America for breach of strike rules

Award-winning filmmaker Park Chan-Wook was suspended from the WGA for writing during the 2023 strike, along with Don McKellar. The decision, which includes a suspension for another writer, emphasizes the guild’s strict maintenance of strike rules and can affect Park’s cooperation with American Studios. Park Chan-Wook was suspended from the WGA for breach of strike rules. (Reuters) Award-winning South Korean Filmmaker Park Chan-Wook has been officially suspended from Writers Guild of America (WGA) to work during the strike of the Union in 2023. Park Chan-Wook expelled from writers Guild of America Park and McKellar were both involved in the HBO minerie ‘The Sympathizer’, which aired in 2024. The seven-part series, based on the award-winning novel of Viet Thanh Nguyen, has Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. The WGA said the two men continued with the strike during the strike, which continued the strike. Neither Park nor McKellar appealed. Park (61) is best known internationally for directing powerful films such as ‘Oldboy’ (2003) and ‘The Handmaiden’ (2016). He is considered one of South Korea’s most important directors. His next film, ‘No Other Choice’, will be premiere at the Venice Film Festival later this month. McKellar, known for his work in the Canadian theater, shares writing credits on the film with Park and others. What was the WGA strike about? The strike of the Writers Guild in 2023 was aimed at improving working conditions, payment and rights for writers in film and television. During the strike, members are expected not to tackle any writing. The WGA was strict about enforcing these rules, and Park’s expansion sent a clear message. In addition to Park and McKellar, the WGA also suspended another writer, Anthony Cipriano, until 2026 for a similar offense. Cipriano is also prohibited from serving in leadership roles in the guild. Although Park is not based in the United States, its eviction from the WGA can affect future projects with US studios. But with “no other choice” soon to be strong and global interest in his work, however, the long -term impact on his career must be seen.