Lee Byung-hun never set out to conquer the world, but his talent and dedication inadvertently led him to global superstardom. But here's where it gets controversial... Was it luck, strategic planning, or something else entirely that propelled him to the forefront of the Korean Wave?
Editor's Note: This story draws from an insightful interview Daniel Dae Kim conducted with Lee Byung-hun for "K-Everything," a CNN Original Series hosted by Kim. The series explores the profound and ever-growing global impact of South Korean culture. Prepare to delve into the journey of one of its most prominent figures!
Imagine this: Lee Byung-hun, physically present in a Seoul hotel room, yet his mind adrift somewhere far above the vast Pacific Ocean. For nearly a year, the acclaimed actor had been on a whirlwind promotional tour – a relentless global circuit supporting a string of hits. First came "Squid Game," the dystopian thriller that captured the world's attention. Then, the animated phenomenon "KPop Demon Hunters," followed by the awards-season contender, "No Other Choice." His travels took him from South Korea to New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, and Venice. The toll? A severe case of jet lag, as he confessed to actor Daniel Dae Kim, the host of CNN's upcoming "K-Everything," on a late December evening.
Lee admitted he hadn't heeded the advice of industry colleagues, who urged him to rest before embarking on the demanding publicity blitz. "I'm having a hard time now," he acknowledged. "But mentally, I'm so happy." This sentiment speaks volumes about his unwavering passion and dedication to his craft.
As a first-time Golden Globe nominee, Lee is no stranger to pushing himself to the limit. Back in the 1990s, as a young actor in South Korea, he frequently endured grueling schedules with little regard for fixed working hours. He recounted one particularly memorable experience: after three days without sleep, he was ready for his close-up. "The director called action and… I fell asleep," he recalled with a chuckle. Now, at 55, Lee shows no signs of slowing down as he embarks on a second conquest of Hollywood – this time on his own terms, in his own language, and with a newfound sense of control. This begs the question: Is this second wave of success more fulfilling for him, given his past experiences?
Believe it or not, Lee never initially aspired to be an actor. He was a college freshman studying French literature in 1991 when a friend of his mother, as a lighthearted joke, handed him an audition flyer. "People were so much more conservative than now," he explained, emphasizing that acting "was not a respected profession" at the time. Nevertheless, he decided to give it a shot, and unexpectedly, he caught the acting bug.
Fortunately, Lee's parents were supportive as he secured roles in television series, most notably the student drama "Tomorrow Love," before transitioning to film. His breakthrough moment arrived in 2000 with the gripping thriller "Joint Security Area." In the film, Lee portrayed a South Korean soldier accused of fatally shooting North Korean troops within the Demilitarized Zone. Directed by Park Chan-wook, this critically acclaimed and commercially successful film masterfully blended complex moral dilemmas with operatic violence, serving as a blueprint for a new generation of Korean filmmakers, including luminaries like Bong Joon Ho and Kim Jee-woon. It was a turning point, not just for Lee, but for Korean cinema as a whole.
In 2005, while attending the Cannes Film Festival, Lee received an offer from an agent to open doors to Hollywood. He accepted, and four years later, he made his English-language debut in "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra." And this is the part most people miss... The transition wasn't seamless.
"Acting in English," he recalled, "felt like I was swimming in the middle of the ocean without knowing the direction." He explained the challenges of mastering pronunciation, intonation, and accent. "If someone pointed out to me some pronunciation or intonation (or) accent, then it was in my head," he said. "I've gotten a little more comfortable with that. Back then, if someone suddenly pointed something out to me, or if something kept bothering me, I'd be so preoccupied with it that I couldn't do anything else.” The pressure to perform flawlessly in a foreign language was immense.
Despite his initial reservations, casting directors were clearly impressed. He went on to star in a "G.I. Joe" sequel, followed by roles in "Terminator Genisys" (2015), Antoine Fuqua's remake of "The Magnificent Seven" (2016), and numerous other projects.
Within a short span of time, Lee found himself sharing the screen with legendary actors such as Al Pacino, Denzel Washington, Anthony Hopkins, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ethan Hawke. He purchased a home in Los Angeles and even invested in a small winery in Mendoza, Argentina. However, Lee never fully dedicated himself to Hollywood, choosing to continue acting in Korean blockbusters like "The Age of Shadows" (2016) and "Emergency Declaration" (2021). He maintained a foot in both worlds, demonstrating his commitment to his roots.
He still owns his LA home, he said, although "most of the time it's empty." But this awards season, things might be different. The actor is poised to be a major presence on the red carpet.
Over the past year or so, Lee's career has undergone a significant shift: American audiences have come to him. This is a crucial distinction. He no longer needs to chase Hollywood roles; Hollywood is chasing him.
Last year, Lee captivated audiences as the enigmatic Front Man in "Squid Game," terrorized children as the voice of Gwi-Ma in "KPop Demon Hunters," and delivered a chilling performance as a hapless killer in the Oscar-contending "No Other Choice." This diverse range of roles highlights his versatility and range as an actor.
"Squid Game," Hwang Dong-hyuk's dark satire of late capitalism, premiered in 2021 and quickly became Netflix's most popular show of all time. The streaming giant recorded nearly 600 million views of season one, and season two ahead of its third and final season last June, was viewed 60 million times in its first three days alone, setting another Netflix record. The show’s success was unprecedented.
"It felt very weird," Lee said, "because I made Korean content with Korean actors and Korean staff and a Korean director, and it's about Korean story based on Korean culture in the Korean language – and they react like that?" He seemed genuinely surprised by the global phenomenon.
He readily credits streaming services for revolutionizing the entertainment industry: "As long as the content is good, then people all around the world will watch it." Streaming platforms have democratized access to international content, breaking down geographical barriers and allowing diverse stories to reach a global audience.
Last June, Netflix also released the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" (a title that succinctly explains the plot). Remarkably, just two months later, it became the streamer's most popular movie of all time, transitioning from living rooms to theaters with over 1,000 sold-out singalong screenings worldwide. Four songs from the film even cracked the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The pop culture sensation won two awards at the 2026 Golden Globes for best animated film and best original song, "Golden," and is very likely to receive multiple Oscar nominations.
A North American production in partnership with Sony Pictures Animation, the film boasts a voice cast brimming with members of the Korean diaspora, including Daniel Dae Kim. Lee signed on to the project primarily because he wanted to make a film that his children could enjoy.
"I watched it with my 10-year-old boy," he said. "He asked me, 'Are you the villain?' I said yes. He said, 'Again?!' He was so disappointed." (His two-year-old daughter hasn't seen the movie, but her favorite song is, of course, "Golden.") This anecdote reveals a more personal side of Lee, showcasing his desire to connect with his children through his work.
One film his children won't be watching anytime soon is "No Other Choice." The dark and disturbing themes are definitely not suitable for young viewers.
Lee's highly anticipated reunion with Park Chan-wook premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August and has been making waves on the festival circuit and the awards season scene ever since. It opened in US cinemas on Christmas Day and will expand to more theaters on January 16. The film is generating significant buzz and is expected to be a major contender during awards season.
Based on American Donald Westlake's novel "The Ax" – previously adapted into a French film titled "Le couperet" by Costas-Gavras in 2005 – Park's version updates the story of an unemployed middle manager who devises a plan to eliminate his competition in his desperate quest to secure a new job. It's a dark and twisted tale that explores the lengths people will go to in the face of economic hardship.
Lee revealed that Park first mentioned the project to him approximately 15 years ago. Initially, it was conceived with an American cast, but Park eventually brought it to Korea and cast Lee in the lead role of Man-su, a paper manufacturer. The journey from initial concept to final product was a long and winding one.
"He thought that the story was going to be a very dark and tragic one, because it's about a man who lost his job, but he found himself bursting out in laughter," Park said in a recent interview with CNN. "The first question he asked me after reading the screenplay was whether he read it correctly, and my response to him was, 'the funnier the better.'" This unique blend of dark humor and tragedy is a hallmark of Park Chan-wook's filmmaking style.
Man-su is a hilariously inept and terribly funny serial killer. He questions his methods, struggles to execute his plans, and even empathizes with his victims (unsurprisingly, they share many commonalities). Yet, despite his incompetence, he manages to get the job done. Lee is playing against type; his character is far from villainous, instead portraying a bumbling victim of a cold and uncaring system. This subversion of expectations adds another layer of complexity to the film.
Park emphasized to CNN that Man-su is the protagonist, and automation is the true antagonist, bringing Westlake's story into the present by positioning AI as the ultimate bogeyman. This modern twist on the classic tale makes it even more relevant to contemporary audiences.
"Korea is a very competitive society; everyone is trying to survive," Lee observed, while acknowledging that his country's situation is not unique. "With the advent of AI, people will be thinking more deeply about this issue… It’s possible it could get even worse in the future." The film taps into a growing anxiety about the impact of technology on the job market and the future of work.
"No Other Choice" – ruthlessly incisive, unpredictable, and deeply rooted in cultural specificity – returns to the fundamental principles that underpin much of the successful K-content we see today. It's a testament to the power of authentic storytelling.
Both Lee and Park suggested that South Korea's tumultuous modern history – marked by Japanese colonization from 1910 to 1945, the Korean War, and subsequent military dictatorships – has imbued the country with a unique energy that has permeated the arts. This historical context is crucial to understanding the themes and narratives explored in Korean cinema and television.
"The great influence that Korean culture has today is truly (a) gain that we've gotten through the pain that we've experienced in our history. So, I actually feel quite bitter about that," the director stated. This bittersweet perspective highlights the complex relationship between historical trauma and artistic expression.
Interestingly, Lee hinted that the nation nearly squandered its hard-earned cultural cache during a period of creative stagnation along the K-wave. This serves as a cautionary tale for other countries experiencing similar cultural booms.
"Twenty years ago, when the Korean wave was just starting in Asia… we started asking ourselves, 'What will they want next?'" he said, referring to international audiences. "Instead of sticking to what we had always done, we began to think more and more about what they want. And as we did that, over time the enthusiasm gradually cooled off." This illustrates the dangers of trying to cater too much to external expectations, potentially sacrificing authenticity in the process.
"We've already gone through a period of trial and error," he added. "I think this time we need to create with those lessons in mind." The key is to learn from past mistakes and stay true to one's own artistic vision.
The unapologetic, undiluted – and wildly popular – voice of the K-wave today, evident across film, television, and music, reflects a nation doubling down on itself. In 2020, "Parasite" director Bong Joon Ho famously told the world to overcome their reluctance to read subtitles, and then proceeded to win Best Picture at the Oscars a month later. "No Other Choice" and its star, both nominated for Golden Globes and in the running for other awards, further solidify the notion that the most rewarding path is often the one that remains steadfast and unwavering. But is unwavering necessarily the best strategy in a constantly evolving global landscape?
"We should continue to develop that same energy, the same method, the same storytelling," Lee asserted. "If we stubbornly continue to do what we do, we'll eventually be able to maintain that ongoing interest." His message is clear: authenticity and unwavering commitment are the keys to long-term success.
The CNN Original Series, K-Everything, hosted by Kim will be released on CNN International this April and stream on HBO MAX in May. Be sure to tune in to learn more about the fascinating world of Korean culture!
What do you think? Is Lee Byung-hun's global success a testament to his individual talent, or a reflection of a broader cultural shift? Do you agree with his assessment of the K-wave's past missteps and future direction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
