Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
'No Other Choice,' 'KPop Demon Hunters' earn Golden Globe nominations
Lee Byung-hyun acts in a scene from the Park Chan-wook film "No Other Choice." The film earned three nominations at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, including Lee in the Best Actor category. Courtesy of CJ ENM
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Lee Byung-hun in contention for Best Actor
Park Chan-wook’s latest film “No Other Choice” and Netflix animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters” landed major nominations at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, underscoring the widening footprint of Korean storytelling and creators in the global film industry.
Among the Korean and Korea-inspired contenders, announced Monday (local time), Park’s satirical black comedy thriller earned nods for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy and Best Non-English Language Motion Picture. The film revolves around Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun), a family man who is suddenly laid off and embarks on a desperate fight to find a new job.
Park returns to the Golden Globes just three years after “Decision to Leave” was nominated for Best Non-English Language Film in 2023. With “No Other Choice” picking up three nominations, anticipation is growing for Park to finally take home trophies this year.
The film’s international momentum began with its invitation to the main competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, becoming the first Korean film in 13 years to do so and drawing global attention. At the Toronto International Film Festival, “No Other Choice” won the People’s Choice Awards for international feature, while Lee was honored with a Special Tribute Award.
Now, Lee is looking to extend his awards streak after receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. He will compete against Hollywood heavyweights including Leonardo DiCaprio from “One Battle After Another,” Timothee Chalamet from “Marty Supreme,” George Clooney from “Jay Kelly,” Ethan Hawke from “Blue Moon” and Jesse Plemons from “Bugonia.”
The recognition for both the film and its leading man positions “No Other Choice” as one of the most visible Korean-language contenders this year.
This image shows "KPop Demon Hunters" characters, from left, Zoey, Rumi and Mira in a scene from the Netflix animated film. Courtesy of Netflix
Korean cultural presence is equally strong in the animation fields. “KPop Demon Hunters” received three nominations: Best Animated Motion Picture, Best Original Song for “Golden,” and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
While the film is not a Korean studio production, its story and creative identity draw heavily on K-pop and broader Korean cultural codes, underscoring how Korean motifs now anchor globally scaled entertainment projects.
This year’s nominations invite a look back at the Globes’ evolving recognition of Korean actors in particular. “Squid Game” star Oh Young-soo won for Best Supporting Actor in 2022, becoming the first Korean actor to take home a Golden Globe, while Korean American actor Steven Yeun won Best Male Actor in a Limited Series in 2024 for Netflix’s “Beef,” marking a milestone for actors of Korean descent in the award show’s history. Lee’s latest nod signals that the Korean presence has surpassed global streaming power to reach the upper tier of film recognition.
Emma Stone acts in a scene from "Bugonia," an English-language remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 cult favorite "Save the Green Planet!" Courtesy of CJ ENM
Another Korea-related thread can be found in “Bugonia,” nominated alongside “No Other Choice” in the Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy category and earning acting nods for Emma Stone and Plemons. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the project is an English-language remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 cult favorite “Save the Green Planet!,” showcasing how Korean narratives continue to feed Hollywood’s remake pipeline.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony is set for Jan. 11, 2026.