South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun has returned to the center of global attention as No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan-wook, earned three nominations at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language and Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Lee himself. His nomination places him alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, George Clooney, Ethan Hawke and Jesse Plemons, marking a rare moment in which a Korean actor directly competes with Hollywood’s most prominent names in a major U.S. awards category.
The film, which depicts an ordinary man suddenly laid off and forced to fight for his family and home, premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival and drew consistent critical attention throughout its festival run. It was later selected as South Korea’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, strengthening its position as one of the country’s most notable works of the year. The Golden Globe nominations represent the culmination of that momentum and confirm its impact both artistically and commercially.
At the center of this success stands Lee Byung-hun, one of the most influential actors in modern Korean cinema. Born in 1970, he made his television debut in 1991 and gradually built a career that would shape the direction of Korean film for decades. His performances in Joint Security Area, A Bittersweet Life, Masquerade and Inside Men are widely regarded as milestones that expanded the emotional and stylistic range of Korean acting. Known for his precision, expressive control and ability to move fluidly across genres, Lee is considered one of the few Korean actors who consistently demonstrate both box-office power and critical acclaim.
Lee’s career has long extended beyond South Korea. He was one of the first Korean actors to gain visible roles in Hollywood productions, appearing in the G.I. Joe franchise, Red 2, Misconduct and The Magnificent Seven. At a time when East Asian actors were often cast in peripheral roles, his performances helped illustrate the potential for Korean actors in the global market. His cross-border career is now seen as a precursor to the broader rise of Korean content internationally.
His personal life also draws significant public interest, as he is married to Lee Min-jung, a prominent South Korean actress known for her leading roles in dramas such as Smile, You, Cunning Single Lady and Once Again. The couple married in 2013 and are regarded as one of the most high-profile actor partnerships in the Korean entertainment industry. Their careers have often been covered side by side in domestic media, underlining their visibility within Korean popular culture.
The year 2025 marks a turning point for Lee Byung-hun’s international recognition. He became the first Korean actor to receive the Toronto International Film Festival’s Tribute Award, and he was nominated for Best Actor at the Gotham Awards for No Other Choice. These acknowledgments from North American critics and festival institutions indicate a renewed global appraisal of his decades-long body of work.
His Golden Globe nomination thus represents more than individual success; it signals the growing position of Korean actors within global awards structures that have historically centered English-language performances. As Korean cinema and television continue to gain influence worldwide, Lee Byung-hun now stands at the forefront of that shift—a figure whose career bridges national industries and whose work demonstrates how far Korean talent can reach.
With No Other Choice advancing through the awards season, Lee remains one of the most closely watched actors of the year. For many observers, the question “Who is Lee Byung-hun?” now has a clearer answer: he is a rare actor whose career has expanded the boundaries of Korean cinema and whose presence is helping reshape how global audiences perceive Korean performers.
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Kang In sig insig6622@naver.com
