Park Chan-wook, a prominent figure in Korean cinema known for his work on “Oldboy” and “Snowpiercer,” is set to premiere his latest film, “No Other Choice,” at the Venice Film Festival later this month.
Recently, Park and his writing partner, Don McKellar, were expelled from the Writers Guild of America for their involvement in writing the HBO mini-series “The Sympathizer” during the 2023 writers’ strike. This expulsion raised questions about the impact on Park’s career, but experts suggest it will have minimal effect.
Despite being expelled, Park can continue to write, produce, and direct films and TV shows both in the U.S. and overseas. Companies that are part of the WGA contract can still hire him, and he can work for non-signatory companies without needing a waiver from the WGA. In the event of another writers’ strike, Park can still work as a writer.
The dispute that led to Park and McKellar’s expulsion revolved around the definition of “writing services” during a strike. While the DGA allows certain actions, the WGA considers them as writing and prohibits them. Park maintains that he did not write during the strike, but the WGA’s decision stands.
Expulsion from the WGA means Park cannot participate in guild activities, vote in elections, or receive awards. However, he can still work under the WGA contract by paying a fee for union representation. The financial core rate is slightly lower than standard dues and offers benefits similar to full members.
While there may be some public stigma associated with being expelled from the WGA, Park joins a list of other prominent figures who have voluntarily opted out of membership, including George Clooney and George Lucas. Ultimately, the impact on Park’s career is expected to be minimal, as he continues to be a respected figure in the film industry.
