Director Park Chan-wook unveils complex character dynamics ahead of release

A glimpse into tangled relationships

The upcoming crime thriller No Other Choice (directed by Park Chan-wook) has dropped a new poster teasing its intricate character web — and Lee Byung-hun is at the unsettling center of it all.

Distributor CJ ENM revealed the poster on August 8, featuring lead character Mansoo (played by Lee Byung-hun) surrounded by other key figures, each sporting a distinctly different expression.

Mansoo appears expressionless, yet his determined eyes hint at a dark resolve. His wife Miri (Son Ye-jin) looks torn by conflicting emotions, suggesting inner turmoil.

Meanwhile, Seon-chul (Park Hee-soon), the head of a paper company, wears a relaxed smile — made ironically tense by a threatening flowerpot hovering near him. Mansoo's rival, Beommo (Lee Sung-min), seems to be delivering good news over the phone, but a mysterious hand creeping toward him sparks curiosity.

Ara (Yeom Hye-ran) clutches a book titled Best Husband while showing intense emotion, and Shijo (Cha Seung-won) appears bewildered, holding a shoebox in a puzzling moment.

Anticipation builds for Park Chan-wook's passion project

The mix of expressions and props hints at layered backstories and unexpected twists. Director Park Chan-wook described No Other Choice as "the story I've wanted to tell for the longest time," heightening anticipation among cinephiles.

The film follows a laid-off man who finds himself caught in a high-stakes battle for reemployment — blending domestic drama with suspense-filled noir.

No Other Choice is slated for release next month in Korea.