'NO OTHER CHOICE' Lee Byung-hun "The image of Mansoo with a mustache and wearing a Hawaiian shirt was confusing"

In Park Chan-wook's new film 〈NO OTHER CHOICE〉, Mansoo makes his first appearance with a mustache and wearing a Hawaiian shirt, looking relaxed. However, after being unexpectedly fired, the mustache disappears from his face as he struggles to find reemployment. The mustache symbolizes Mansoo's generous state of mind.

On the 24th, Lee Byung-hun met with reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, recalling the time he was testing Mansoo's appearance before filming began, saying, "I tested with a mustache and a Hawaiian shirt, and looking at the photos, I felt confused as it reminded me of a South American cartel or a South American drug lord."

Based on the novel 「The Ax」, this film tells the story of Mansoo, an unemployed head of the family, who tries to eliminate competitors for reemployment. The film follows his perspective from his downfall to his struggles and ultimately to the conclusion.

Lee Byung-hun reflected on his initial concerns about the character's setup. He said, "I thought this look (with the mustache and Hawaiian shirt) was so strong that the audience might not focus on the story," adding, "I was also worried it might hinder emotional engagement."

However, these worries turned out to be unfounded. 〈NO OTHER CHOICE〉 has received positive reviews from international media after competing in the 82nd Venice Film Festival. In particular, some reporters noted that Mansoo's appearance reminded them of Charlie Chaplin in the film 〈Modern Times〉 (1936).

Lee Byung-hun conveyed the reporters' comments, saying, "It was said that the feeling of slapstick comedy in a standardized factory in 〈Modern Times〉 overlaps with Mansoo's struggle to adapt to the AI system, as he is conflicted about which way to go." He added that his wife, Lee Min-jung, shared the same opinion.

Lee Byung-hun pointed out that the threat of job loss due to AI is not an exception for actors. He mentioned an AI video he appeared in, saying, "At first, I didn't know and thought, 'When did I shoot this?' and added, 'Losing jobs to AI is something that not only we experience directly but most people experience directly or indirectly.'"

He analyzed that the decline of the paper industry, where Mansoo works in the film, is also related to the current situation in theaters. Lee Byung-hun stated, "While content continues to be created through streaming or other means, the theater industry is in urgent need. It is a pressing issue to find ways to attract audiences again."

Lee Byung-hun, who has consecutively presented notable works including Netflix series 〈Squid Game〉 Season 3 and Netflix animation 〈K-Pop Demon Hunters〉, as well as Park Chan-wook's 〈NO OTHER CHOICE〉, did not hide his anxiety as an actor. He candidly expressed, "Our movie starts with 'We have achieved everything,' but the conclusion is a tragedy of 'We have lost everything,'" adding, "I always think about how long I can remain a 'desirable actor.'"