Park Chan-wook Can Keep Writing Despite Expulsion From WGA

Park Chan-wook, a prominent figure in Korean cinema known for his work on films like “Oldboy” and “Snowpiercer,” is set to premiere his new film, “No Other Choice,” at the Venice Film Festival later this month.

Recently, Park and his writing partner, Don McKellar, were expelled from the Writers Guild of America for their involvement in writing the HBO mini-series “The Sympathizer” during the 2023 writers’ strike. This move has raised questions about the impact it will have on Park’s career. However, experts suggest that the expulsion will have minimal effect on his employability.

Despite being expelled from the WGA, Park can continue to write, produce, and direct movies and TV shows both domestically and internationally. Companies that are signatories to the WGA contract are still able to hire him, and he can work for non-signatory companies without requiring a waiver from the WGA. Additionally, in the event of another writers’ strike, Park can still work as a writer.

The dispute that led to Park and McKellar’s expulsion centered around the definition of “writing services” during a strike. While the DGA allows members to make minor adjustments in dialogue, the WGA considers such actions as writing and prohibits them. Park maintains that he did not violate the strike rules and did not write during the strike.

Expulsion from the WGA is the most severe form of punishment the guild can impose, but it does not limit job opportunities for Park. He can still work under the WGA contract by paying a fee to compensate for union representation. However, he will no longer be eligible to vote in WGA elections, attend WGA events, or receive WGA awards.

The public stigma of being expelled from the WGA may have some impact on Park’s career, as there is a website listing ex-members who have been expelled or have opted for financial core status. However, Park will join other notable figures like George Clooney and George Lucas on this list.

Overall, the expulsion from the WGA is unlikely to hinder Park Chan-wook’s career significantly, as he remains a highly respected and sought-after filmmaker in the industry.