sometimes kdramas will do the thing where they make an entire song a leitmotif and somehow do it in a way that feels poignant instead of cheap and no one ever talks about it. in this essay i will
One man, three award-winning roles:
Ahn Jung-geun - Harbin (2024)
Ri Jeong-hyeok - Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)
Baek Ki-tae - Made in Korea (2025-2026)
I discovered Park Chan-wook in the early 2000s after seeing Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. This was after Kill Bill (lol) opened my world to femme fatales and I really wanted to see more about vengeful women who can leave a wake of destruction and SFLV stylistically and narratively delivered. It was disgusting, it was bold, and unlike anything Iโve seen before.
I would see Handmaiden later on, then Decision to Leave. I remember how gorgeous and haunting DTL was that I was compelled to rewatch the ending in a hotel (after watching it on a flight).
No Other Choice provided an opportunity to appreciate the director's work in real-time and with two of my past and present favorites, Lee Byung-hun (my first favorite Korean actor) and Son Ye-jin. Just with that combination alone made me an immediate fan. I knew I was gonna love whatever they throw at me.
NOC was different in that it was clear with what it set out to do. I do agree with the director saying it's his most accessible work though it still leaves questions (for the critics he said lol) like what would be the wife's decision in the end.
In my preference list, it likely won't be on top in terms of lasting impact but it would be the PCW movie I'm welcome to repeating again and again because of how addicting its pace and scenes are.
Which is something I couldn't say with the movie's original materials. I finished Costa-Gavras's The Axe in three days because I kept falling asleep even as I was approaching the last murders, and the short book by Donald Westlake took me months. It's not a story that I would have engaged in, had this not been a PCW work because it's thick with masculinity and also too procedural? The blubbering Mansoo and his fragile ego and a more prominent and competent female lead in Miri have added a layer of complexity and richness to the entire movie that made it juicier to dig in. It's just fun in spite of the tragedy of it all because of how ridiculous and sympathetic it was.
You just can't go wrong with a Park Chan-wook movie. Even if this isn't his best, it would easily be among the greats in terms of artistic merit. And anything Byung-hun and Ye-jin does is bound to be "absolute cinema" as the meme goes as they act the hell out of everything (and that extends to the supporting cast, truly the industry's cream of the crop).
In a way it was a bit burdensome for me because thereโs already that weight of expectations and youโre trying to affix meanings to every single detail instead of just sitting and enjoying the show (and NOC is very fast-paced). Also I approached the previous PCW movies not knowing who the cast were (and meeting them for the first time) so I could follow in a blank slate without particular investments. So sometimes I was conscious of my want and need to love it that I needed to really ask myself and self-examine: did I really enjoy it?
I definitely appreciated NOC more knowing how Park Chan-wook appropriated the story elements in a Korean 21st century setting with the role of the patriarch, the sense of losing face, social-media envy, and the inevitability of AI. Plus I thought by contextualizing the origins and motives, he gave the story a uniquely human aspect. Add to that PCW's knack for symbolism and metaphors to reinforce the plot (e.g., Mansoo's tooth ache and the bonsais)
ย With The Axe novel, itโs the protagonist resorted to violence against a society who failed him of his entitled safety:
โMaybe it's wrong of me to think this hits the middle class more than other people, because Iโm middle class (and trying to stay middle class) but I do think it does, it hurts us more. The people at the extremes, the poor and the very rich, are used to the idea that life has great swings, now you're doing well, now you're doing bad. but the middle class is used to a smooth progress through life. We give up the highs, and in return weโre supposed to be protected from the lowsโฆand now it isn't happening, and we feel betrayed.โ
The middle-class sentiment is similar with NOC but itโs also a man who is castrated of his role as provider, who canโt bear the thought of selling the home - an extension of his being - and even funnily canceling his Netflix subscription.
The Axe movie ended with Bruno getting away with murder and offered the job but facing a jobseeker who could just be as equally ruthless as him.
No Other Choice ended with Mansoo also getting away with murder and offered the job but ruining the family thatโs most precious to him just to maintain this status. Miri stands as the all-knowing eye that may very well be his reckoning.
Giving names, faces, and lines to the family, especially Miri, definitely grounded a rather outlandish story with real stakes and consequences.
Much of the movie's storytelling realism hinged on Miri, who was the voice of reason and wanted to divest their properties for the family's collective survival. Her expanded role (thanks also to Ye-jin's intervention) gave the movie the boundaries, the jar for the pebbles to fit in, the tentpole that held the plot together. Because without her Mansoo wouldn't be so desperate, wouldn't entertain the thought of murder, and ultimately he would have gotten away scot-free had she not suspected something was amiss from her children (the children's active roles here also added to Mansoo's fatherly instinct to protect and provide.) While Mansoo profited, Miri visibly held back. Mansoo will never go back to the time he could embrace his family close or have a wife who adores and dotes on him. She will be there but not in mind and spirit. And I love how the movie ended ominously, with the rot festering from within.
I'm sorry it didn't get more flowers than it deserves but it's satisfying enough to see the collective outrage behind its award season snub (except the Golden Globes). I'm still holding my breath for the Baeksangs because it will go up against Korea's highest grossing film ever (update: we won!!!). NOC didn't do as well as I hoped in domestic takings though it's definitely broke the breakeven point and performed well in the US box office. I do think the acting awards are winnable, simply because the material is strong, detailed, and challenging enough for a capable cast to display range. But I've also seen unpredictable judging before.
But following the movie, from its Venice Film Festival premiere to its local showing here and ordering official merch from abroad was such a thrilling ride I'm glad and proud to go through as a fan of PCW and Ye-jin collectively. It's so fun being part of that madness though it compromised sleeps and more. And that's probably made to the overall movie experience even more unforgettable. For all that it is, I really was left with no choice.
this was in my drafts for so long, idk why it's taken me so long to post
I met Hyun Bin on August 8, 2025, and it was a dream come true and a nightmare I wouldnโt wish on any fan.
As any new Hyun Bin fan, Iโve come to know of his Asia fanmeets (the last one in 2019) and whispered a hope to be part of that audience one day. But the chances of that ever happening again looked slim to none as many hallyu figures have gone and embarked on their post-pandemic tours in the region and the actor has not budged apart from some movie promos.
I had practically accepted to myself that I probably won't see him in a while. Flying to Seoul during an event is probably the only way, but I would need a โbusiness caseโ to justify that.
Case in point, Son Yejinโs event in Bucheon was the perfect all-in-one deal, a multi-day affair with an exhibition, megatalk, and limited merch thrown in together. Itโs something that would make arranging a visa, flights, and hotel all worth it.
Events like that are like a comet streaking the sky. In the meantime Hyun Bin promoted three movies, Harbin more recently. But stage greetings are high-risk affairs where you will have to be strategically seated and know people to make the most of the 15-minute encounter. More to the point, I want to be able to watch the movie and understand it (ergo: subs).
After my country skipped Harbin and I ended up torrenting the movie, I floated the idea of seeing him in Tokyo when a Japanese premiere was being hinted, but it came much sooner than expected, so that was another regretful miss (as was Taiwan which was also sudden).
So it was like waking up to a different world the first of July (exactly one year after Yejinโs event) when I saw the news that Hyun Bin was going to my country for a meet and greet the following month. And I wish I could say I shrieked to the top of my lungs and jumped on my bed but the fineprint killed excitement before it could fully take shape.
It was a raffle event. Winning is a prerequisite.
Instead of calling friends, I was crying in their DMs. Because how is this my problem now? Letโs be honest, who thinks theyโre great at raffles? Who can say with confidence, โIโll win this and see Hyun Bin next month.โ Even those who get picked in Christmas party raffles would have doubts.
But itโs easier to say: โI wonโt win the PS5/iPhone grand prizeโ than โI wonโt win to see Hyun Bin.โ
This man practically lives in a cave. But now heโs flying to my airspace, to a venue I know like the back of my hand as a theatregoer, in my exact timezone and under the same polluted sky. And he shows up in this video saying โI finally got the chance to come and meet you in Manila!โ And I donโt see him? ThatโฆI cannot live with.
And thus, the prelude to my torment (and i fear this post is more torture than actual heaven im sorry)
The event is hosted by an integrated resort called Solaire where thereโs a hotel, a casino, a pool, and lots of restaurants. To qualify for one raffle ticket, you have to spend 2,000 pesos (35 USD) in food and drinks, before taxes (meaning one would need to spend like 300-500 more to count).
Friends, a regular income-earning employee doesnโt spend that much in food and drinks for one meal. But it was my birthday so there was an excuse to splurge, I changed the venue at the last minute to the cheapest place I can find in Solaire. Credit where itโs due, itโs a proper fancy place with the most courteous service you can enjoy. So when I got my receipt, I was feeling a bit lighter now that I have a raffle ticket.
I went to the counter and there was someone filling out 6 tickets at once.
And my heart sunk all over again.
It was anxiety pro max, thinking about how many tickets there will be every single day that could drown my entry. I started dreaming about trying to get more tickets, or managing to win only for it to be a fake Hyun Bin. I slept nervous, I woke up nervous. I overworked to stop thinking about the thing and I started giving myself little heart attacks each time I think about losing. I tried to condition myself to just plan a visit to the venue when I definitely lose but this was hard to stomach.
Iโm grateful for irls who showed up to accompany me for a repeat visit and taken it upon themselves to join me in this bizarre โmission.โ I enjoyed the company and even the relentless teasing (this was so not my scene). And supportive and encouraging as the Solaire staff were, all hopes were dashed the more I see people at the raffle counter redeeming 15 or more tickets at a time.
Seeing Hyun Binโs โI want youโ posters only terrified me because what if his ads are all I see?
On Twitter, itโs actually quiet. Youโd think about there would be a buzz but thereโs not a lot of discussion. Iโve not taken to posting much about it as well. Dread took over delight, and I was also afraid of some evil eye. You canโt help but be superstitious with nothing concrete to hold on.
Honestly, itโs cruel what everyone was put through, how everyone was in this competition for a measly 600 tickets. Everyone was spending money blindly and not any number of tickets could guarantee a sure seat (except for that person who spent 1.7 million pesos). For myself, I kept agonizing thinking whether Iโve done enough as though I have any control (or money lol).
Itโs a brutal game and heartbreaking watching other fan meets get announced and proceed normally with fans - all with tickets - getting hyped counting down and organizing cute projects. But for us, we have to risk and gamble for an entry.
Raffle d-day came, there was relief that itโs over and trepidation for the inevitable. No one had any clue when the news would drop and how and where. Around 7PM, I saw people started getting text messages but so few you could count in two hands, so I held onto some hope that all texts have not been sent yet. A charade of refreshing Twitter pages and lurking ensued and there was a sense of: no one among acquaintances and the larger community have won yet, thatโs not possible right?
I didnโt get any message, and so didn't 99% of everyone I know and even those Iโve seen who have gotten 10 - 20 (even 50++) tickets ended up empty-handed. It should have been obvious from the start that it's a losing game but the way we were led to think there's no other choice but to play with fate.
There was uproar but for the most part, a sickening silence since Solaire wasn't saying anything. For a long while there was no news until Solaire posted congratulations.
Butโฆ30 days fraught with tension, being sick with unnecessary worrying, planning way-above-budget lunches, getting palpitations and playing doom scenarios in my head and all for a nothing burger? Sure yay to food and social bonding but letโs not pretend it wasnโt a hostage situation.
Throughout the promotion period, apart from the teasing videos and photos of Hyun Bin, there wasnโt really clarity on how this event was happening: Whatโs the agenda? Why are they only giving away 600 tickets when the theatre can seat 1700? Only after the raffle did it start dawning upon us that the event was not really a fan meet or even a traditional meet and greet as Solaire promoted, and more of an exclusive event where some members of the public can participate. Only 600 tickets (if it was truly 600) were raffled, which left 1,100 tickets unaccounted for.
Putting my ear to the ground, it became clear majority of the audiences were VIP normies, casino players, and just really well-connected people. How much did this ticket matter to these people any more than seeing a handsome Korean guy of no personal consequence? Over the humble hustling fan who have no connections just pure passion? wbk the event serves the resortโs interests but I didnโt realize how much they just didnโt care about the people they sold this idea of โmeeting Hyun Bin.โ I felt slapped in the face with betrayal and the injustice of it all but no amount of complaints will deign a response from them. And this is why Iโm spiteful each time the media calls the event โentry by raffle.โ
I lost sleep, woke up sad, failed to distract myself even if Iโm outside. I ended up biting the bullet and resorted to bidding for tickets (never done before), chalking it up for my mental health and sanity. I was losing it honestly, I thought I could collapse anytime.
As with the law of scarcity, scalpers took advantage and jacked up prices for reseller tickets to 20000 pesos. I ended up with one (not that price but still) and I rushed to Solaire so I can get it as soon as it was claimed. The seat was by far, not the best in the house. It dawned upon me that the raffle winners got the โcheap seatsโ while those who didnโt join get the orchestra seats.
Itโs amazing how Solaire screwed fans Iโm still mad and traumatized by it. Safe to say Iโm going to be avoiding the place like a plague even if they're playing a production I liked.
The only saving grace really was I ended up with good memories of the day.
Even if I managed to secure a ticket, I couldnโt wait for the event to be over. Maybe it was exhaustion talking or how I was majorly disappointed and stretched out beyond my wallet and wits. I tried to psyche myself up when Hyun Bin landed and reminded myself that this is the guy who played my favorite character and gave me comfort as I watched his works in pandemic-hit movie houses and took photos of his giant billboards. But I feared for further disappointment even though Iโve already lowered my expectations anyway. Not very hard to do that at that point.
Morning of the event I wrote a fan letter that Iโll probably end up taking back home or maybe mailing to Seoul. Who knew, maybe I could find a staff member to pass it to.
I managed to swallow some dumplings. I couldn't eat - more of nervousness than excitement. I left early in the afternoon because I live two hours from the event place and I wanted to get a feel or just see if anything is being planned at all.
It was kind of surreal seeing the theatre that Iโve been visiting since 10 years ago actually transformed into Hyun Bin land. But instead of musical posters and backdrops there were the actorโs standees and adorning the giant photo backdrop. There was a table setup for the in-event experiences. More raffle. Whoopee..
While looking for (cheap) dinner ideas because I refused to give Solaire more money, I learned about a press conference going on and found the venue where cameras were going in and out so instead of continuing to pick a meal, I loitered.
Others had the same idea so the corridors started getting crowded over time and security detail spread out in turn. Stanchions were brought out and strung around the area completely sealing the intersection point between casino/food court to shops, theatre, and exit points. Literally, it became a restricted area like some dignitary was in the vicinity. People were also told to back off a few yards to a point where we couldn't see the doors to the press venue.
Even so the guards couldn't say if Hyun Bin will be around and about and the very exaggerated preparations were โjust in case.โ
Anyway all passageways were blocked so there's really no way to go anywhere. I rooted myself on my spot for whatever will happen and watched the press conference (Hyun Bin! In white! Speaking with Philippine media!!) from the phone. All I wanted was a glimpse that's gonna be closer than the ant vision Iโm expecting at the theatre. Just so I can say I saw him in the flesh and not from a pair of binoculars.
(Secretly I was even downplaying the whole thing to keep โthe bar in hellโ and saying โeh it's not even his best look'.โฆ..)
More minutes of standing later, the same guard headed back to say two words I never expected to hear in my month-long agony: the words โGood newsโ and that "he" will personally come over to say hi to everyone gathered.
I canโt begin to describe, the rapture, the joy, the exhilaration. That Hyun Bin himself will stop by to greet us. Despite his tight security, despite this place not being in Korea (and maybe that had everything to do with thatโฆ), despite being a literal stranger in this land, he had decided to go out of his way to take time to get closer more in a way I couldnโt imagine. This was not at all scheduled, he was supposed to leave after the press con for the theatre and yet?????
I couldn't help but shriek (along with the others) from the top of my lungs, going โThank you! Thank you!!โ over and over again. I went from not being able to see him coz I lost to seeing him in a few minutes. Best of all, I could actually hand him my letter in person!!!
After around 30 more thrilling minutes and false alarms, the man himself really came out and started going corridor by corridor. I first spied him in the gap between a pillar and ohsht it was really the guy I was just streaming on the phone. I wish I can remember detail by detail what happened when he finally turned to our corridor.
People keep saying it to the point of that it loses its meaning, but it was truly like a scene from a drama and I was the one standing stunned beyond belief that this man who looked like Hyun Bin was approaching.
And I take back what I said, he was ridiculously good-looking. Something about the golden glow of his skin, the structures of his face was molded to perfection. He was every majestic adjective and was so much larger and brighter in life. He had an overwhelming aura that drove people (me) crazy because of his proportions, his sculptural features, and overall the fact he was actually Hyun Bin.
And he was STILL coming my way and smiling at me and making an โoโ face in recognition at the envelop I was waving that he reached out to take and my shaky camera caught all this jerky action before he started shaking peopleโs hands. My priority was giving the letter so I didnโt really plan to be handshaken. Before he left he turned to me, smiled, and waved before leaving and that would do. THAT WOULD DO.
sorry i'm still very bad in taking these kinds of things (then again how could people be normal during these times???) but here it is before
Eveningโฆweekโฆone month made by that one-minute encounter. Singlehandedly brought me back from the ashes.
Later I would kick myself because my camera could actually do higher resolution settings but I just didn't think of tinkering with it.
I didn't think I would see him up close!!
And I have a shaky video to commemorate the encounter (as against none - like in Bifan).
Didn't get to eat dinner, because the show was going to be in 30 minutes. I even forgave the view of the stage, I was just glad to be there and okay he was a little more like squirrel size than an ant from my pov. The program started by playing but it's destiny and give you my heart which ngl had me soft then they played a mission impossible-esque reel where he supposedly โlandsโ on solaire. (uh)
That aside, it didn't have a lot of cringe moments which was good, perhaps it was too respectable. The whole thing was structured like a late night show so it was a bit business formal and, well, generic. Iโm sure the place would have shaken more had they gotten his actual fandom in. It was good clean fun in the end. At least it looked like Hyun Bin enjoyed himself with how he gamely interacted with the audience.
Was it worth a VIP concert ticket or dare I say a million? Doubtful.
I went home not completely cursing the place but not looking forward to coming back to it. And the media would write good things about it and some would even think it's something that can be done again to which I say, don't. Don't manifest it to your fandoms. People see the interactions in the resort but not the money fans spent that went down the drain. People see the stage audience and think of happy fans but donโt see the disappointed majority who weren't able to make it.
The name of the event funnily was โLanding at Solaireโ and Iโm sure it certainly landed in Solaireโs golden coffers, but the touch down is wobbly and shaky at best. Even as his Solaire ads has popping up in gigantic billboards and TV screens, I canโt help but still associate the whole thing with regret. It could have been better, it could have been spectacular, it could have been so much more inclusive. Iโm thankful for the good memories and experiencing the man's kindness in person, but they are also laced with the bitterness that organizers sold the event to fans and treated us as an afterthought.
I am...a good person. Losing my job...is not my choice! My loving family will support me fully as I seek new opportunities. My loving family will support me fully as I seek new opportunities. I have nothing to be ashamed of...I have nothing to hide from my family...
NO OTHER CHOICE (2025) dir. Park Chan-wook, based on 'The Ax' by Donald E. Westlake
