Lee Byung-hun and “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk are working together again, this time on the sci-fi thriller “K.O. Club.” The project marks Hwang’s first feature film in nearly a decade and brings several familiar Korean actors into a story focused on wealth, aging, and a sharp divide between generations.
Firstman Studio, the production company Hwang runs with producer Kim Ji-yeon, confirmed the cast and plans to begin filming in the first half of 2027. Lee Byung-hun will lead the film after playing the Front Man throughout the “Squid Game” franchise.
Park Hae-soo, another “Squid Game” alum, will also appear. The cast includes Oh Jung-se, known for “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” Cho Yeo-jeong from “Parasite,” and Kim So-jin from “The Man Standing Next.” Hwang will work with Oh, Cho, and Kim for the first time on this project.
What “K.O. Club” Is About
“K.O. Club” takes place in a near-future society where wealthy people can purchase biological youth. That advantage creates a bitter divide between an aging elite that controls money and influence and younger people who struggle to gain access to either.
The title refers to “Killing Oldmen Club,” directly pointing to the film’s central conflict over age, wealth, and social power. The premise continues Hwang’s interest in stories that examine inequality through tense and unconventional situations.
Hwang last directed a theatrical feature with the 2017 historical drama “The Fortress.” His earlier films include “Miss Granny” and “Silenced.” His work on “Squid Game” later earned him a directing Emmy, making him the first Asian director to receive the honor for a foreign-language series.
Lee Byung-hun has also continued working across film and television. His recent credits include Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” and the Go-themed drama “The Match.”
“Squid Game” ran for three seasons on Netflix and became one of the platform’s most-watched series worldwide. Hwang’s return to cinema with “K.O. Club” therefore brings considerable attention to his next feature, while the 2027 production schedule gives the film a clear starting point.
