Korean Director Park Chan-wook Expelled from WGA Over Script Work on 'The Sympathizer' Amid Writers Strike

Time of India

2 days ago

, the visionary behind gripping films like 'Oldboy' and 'The Handmaiden', recently found himself in hot water with the
Writers Guild of America
(WGA).
According to Chosun Ilbo reports, he and Canadian collaborator
were expelled for continuing script work on the HBO series 'The Sympathizer' right in the thick of the 2023 writers' strike.
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This isn't a minor hiccup - the WGA is a major player with roughly 10,000 members, and being ousted means no access to guild-sanctioned projects. For someone like Park, who's dipped toes into international waters, this could cramp future Hollywood gigs where unions call the shots. It underscores how even acclaimed global talents must navigate strict labor rules when crossing into the US scene, adding a layer of real-world tension to the creative process.
Reports from Variety confirm that seven people in total faced such disciplinary actions during that period, highlighting the guild's firm stance on solidarity.
Breaking Down the Massive 2023 WGA Strike
To understand the full picture, let's rewind to the
2023 WGA strike
, which kicked off in May and dragged on until September. Writers were pushing back against low pay, unfair residuals from booming streaming platforms, and the looming threat of AI replacing human creativity in scriptwriting.
This wasn't just a few picket lines; it paralysed several TV and film productions across the US, leaving sets empty and release dates in limbo. Industry estimates from Variety put the economic damage at over $3 billion - that's a staggering 25,000 crore INR, enough to fund multiple high-budget films or series that blend intense drama with cultural twists, much like the crossover stories we see gaining traction globally.
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The strike's demands resonated with creative workers worldwide, emphasizing fair compensation in an era where digital content rules. It set important precedents for how unions enforce rules during disputes, ensuring that everyone from big-name directors to behind-the-scenes scribes plays by the book. Per industry experts at Variety, the fallout included delayed premieres and billions in lost wages, serving as a wake-up call for better protections against tech disruptions in storytelling.
In the end, the resolution brought some wins for writers, but cases like Park's show how violations can lead to lasting consequences.
Inside 'The Sympathizer' - The Controversial Series Park is Currently Producing
At the core of this mess is 'The Sympathizer', an HBO miniseries adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The story follows a North Vietnamese spy who relocates to the US after the Vietnam War, juggling espionage, identity conflicts, and dark humor in a tale of duality and migration.
Park Chan-wook didn't just direct the first three episodes; he's also co-creator, co-showrunner, and producer alongside Don McKellar, making this a key project he's currently involved in producing. The star-studded cast includes Hoa Xuande as the lead,
pulling off multiple roles with his signature flair, and
adding depth to the ensemble.
Premiering in 2024 to positive reviews, the series tackles heavy themes like war's aftermath and cultural clashes with a black comedy edge, earning praise for its fresh perspective on historical events.
Critics noted its 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, highlighting Park's knack for blending thriller elements with emotional layers. However, the writing done during the strike sparked the expulsion, turning what was a celebrated production into a rule-breaking scandal. According to HBO details, the seven-episode run was produced by A24 and Rhombus Media, with Park's involvement extending to overseeing scripts and production processes.
This irony - a spy story about hidden loyalties leading to real-life fallout - adds a meta twist that's almost too perfect, showing how art can collide with industry realities.
Park Chan-wook's Upcoming Thriller and Career Momentum
Not one to stay down, Park is already gearing up for his next big release, 'No Other Choice', a dark thriller marking his return after a three-year break since 'Decision to Leave' in 2022, which snagged him the Best Director award at Cannes. Based on Donald E.
Westlake's novel 'The Ax', it follows a laid-off middle-aged man desperately hunting for a job, starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin in lead roles, with a supporting cast including
and Cha Seung-won. The film wrapped principal photography recently and is set to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in competition, followed by opening the Busan International Film Festival in September 2025.
The Hollywood Reporter suggests high anticipation for Park's signature style of psychological depth and visual mastery.
This expulsion might tweak his Hollywood path, but it hasn't dimmed his global appeal - his films often cross cultural boundaries, inspiring remakes and fan bases everywhere. As per Box Office Mojo trends, Park's past works like 'The Handmaiden' have shown strong international performance, and this new project could follow suit, proving that creative hurdles often fuel even better storytelling.