Acclaimed South Korean actress Yeom Hye-ran has revealed that her latest role in renowned director Park Chan-wook's film 'No Other Choice' has allowed her to explore previously undiscovered aspects of her acting abilities and personal character. The actress plays A-ra, the wife of a formerly successful man who falls into deep depression after losing his job, in what has become one of the most talked-about Korean films of the year.
In the film, Yeom portrays A-ra as the wife of Beom-mo, played by veteran actor Lee Sung-min, who represents a once-proud individual that descends into complete lethargy following his unemployment. Her character delivers a particularly powerful message when she points out that the real issue doesn't stem from his joblessness itself, but rather from his psychological response and attitude toward the setback. This perspective forms a central theme throughout the movie's narrative.
During a recent comprehensive interview, Yeom shared fascinating insights about how director Park Chan-wook drew from his own personal experiences to craft this crucial scene. She revealed that Park told her about a period in his career when he felt completely crushed by a sense of failure after completing his 2002 film 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.' During that difficult time, his wife provided him with the same wisdom that A-ra delivers to her husband, telling him that 'the problem isn't failure itself, but how you deal with it.' This real-life experience directly influenced A-ra's memorable dialogue in the film.
Despite having long admired Park Chan-wook's work from afar, Yeom admitted that she initially felt intimidated when he invited her to join the cast of 'No Other Choice.' She confessed, 'I've never been good with violent films, and some of his works scared me.' However, her apprehension quickly transformed into deep respect as she witnessed the director's meticulous attention to detail. 'Even the smallest choices, like whether a line should use this or that, showed his meticulousness. Working with him sharpened all my senses,' she explained.
One of the most surprising discoveries for Yeom was how the role of A-ra revealed an unexpected sensual side of her acting range. She specifically highlighted a memorable scene where her character sucks venom from Beom-mo's leg after he suffers a snake bite. 'When I first read it, I thought, this is sexy. I never imagined I had that in me, but A-ra brought it out,' she reflected. Interestingly, despite her fear of snakes, she felt relieved when Park assured her that the sequence would be accomplished using computer-generated imagery rather than live reptiles.
Yeom expressed tremendous admiration for her co-stars throughout the production. She described Lee Byung-hun as 'an actor who can make the unimaginable real,' praising his ability to bring authenticity to even the most challenging scenes. Regarding Lee Sung-min, she said he was 'someone I have always admired and wanted to learn from,' and recalled being amazed by his skill in making even simple phone conversation scenes feel vibrant and alive.
'No Other Choice' achieved significant international recognition when it was selected for the competition section of the prestigious 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Yeom described the festival experience as a powerful reminder of cinema's unique ability to bring people together. 'Seeing people line up in the morning and compete for tickets – it was moving,' she said. 'It made me realize how precious it is to laugh together in a theater.'
Reflecting on the entire experience, Yeom called it a dream fulfilled beyond her wildest expectations. 'I never thought I'd be in a Park Chan-wook film or walk the Venice red carpet. Years from now, I'll look back and think, that was when I was happiest,' she shared with evident emotion.
The film has achieved remarkable commercial success since its Korean release on September 24. According to distributor CJ ENM, 'No Other Choice' surpassed one million cumulative moviegoers on September 28, reaching this milestone in just five days after its release. This impressive pace is comparable to this year's highest-grossing film 'My Daughter Is a Zombie,' which reached one million admissions on its fourth day and has subsequently attracted 5.62 million moviegoers to date, demonstrating the strong audience appetite for quality Korean cinema.
