The demand for South Korean entertainment shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Korean culture has become a global phenomenon, with BTS‘ ARMY and other K-pop fandoms driving explosive growth and shows like Netflix’s “Squid Game” setting unprecedented viewership records.
When it comes to film, while the 2020 Oscar win for Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” heightened Korean cinema’s exposure to Western audiences, it was around the turn of the century that saw the industry’s initial arrival on the world stage with Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” taking home the Grand Prix award at the 2004 Cannes film festival.
The film’s lead actor, Choi Min-sik, was already a star back at home, but his haunting revenge performance catapulted him into the international spotlight. Choi went on to cement his legacy with one hit film after another, including the 2014 blockbuster “The Admiral,” which held the record for the country’s highest-grossing domestic film for five years.
After more than two decades away from the small screen, the beloved 61-year-old actor returned last year in the crime drama “Big Bet.”
With the show now airing its second season, Choi sat down with NextShark to discuss the changes he’s witnessed in the industry throughout his career. On the growing popularity of Korean entertainment, he qualifies his enthusiasm with the need to preserve the cultural identity of his country’s filmmaking as it meets the demand of newer audiences.
Reflecting on his legendary performance in “Oldboy,” Choi shares mixed feelings.
On one hand, he admits that he doesn’t want to be defined solely by his work as the retribution-seeking Oh Dae-su. “I actually wanted it to be forgotten,” he says.
“Of course as an actor, if your work is successful you should be very delighted, but then if that image lingers on with you, then that could work against your next…
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