Lee Byung-hun Makes History with Golden Globe Nomination Alongside DiCaprio and Chalamet
Lee Byung-hun has achieved a career milestone that marks a watershed moment for Korean cinema. The acclaimed actor earned a nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, competing directly against Hollywood's biggest stars in one of the industry's most prestigious categories.
The nomination, announced December 8, places Lee among an elite lineup that includes Leonardo DiCaprio ("One Battle After Another"), Timothée Chalamet ("Marty Supreme"), George Clooney ("Jay Kelly"), Ethan Hawke ("Blue Moon"), and Jesse Plemons ("Bugonia"). This marks the first time a Korean actor has been nominated in a lead acting category at the Golden Globes.
'No Other Choice' Earns Triple Nominations
Lee's recognition stems from his performance in Park Chan-wook's dark comedy thriller "No Other Choice," which garnered three Golden Globe nominations total. The film secured nods for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language, making it one of the strongest Korean contenders in Golden Globes history.
"No Other Choice" follows Man-soo (Lee), a family man who embarks on a desperate job search after being suddenly laid off. The film won the International Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and opens in limited U.S. theaters on Christmas Day via Neon.
"I was so surprised by this news, and it was a great honor to be one of the nominees," Lee told Deadline. "What really matters is hopefully all this attention will get as many people as possible into the theaters to watch this movie."
From JSA to Global Recognition
Lee, 55, first gained international attention in Park Chan-wook's 2000 political thriller "JSA: Joint Security Area," set in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. His subsequent career has spanned Korean cinema blockbusters and Hollywood franchises including "G.I. Joe," "Terminator Genisys," and "The Magnificent Seven."
American audiences recently rediscovered Lee through his role as the enigmatic Front Man in Netflix's global phenomenon "Squid Game." While he spent most of Season 1 behind a mask, Season 2 showcased his full range as his character infiltrated the deadly competition as an undercover player.
Lee was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2016, the same year he presented the Oscar for Best International Feature to Hungary's "Son of Saul." Despite his decades-long career and numerous accolades in Asia, this Golden Globe nomination represents his first major recognition from Hollywood's film establishment.
Korean Content Dominates Nominations
"No Other Choice" wasn't the only Korean project to earn Golden Globe recognition. Netflix's animated musical "KPop Demon Hunters" secured three nominations: Best Motion Picture - Animated, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and Best Original Song for "Golden."
The film, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, became Netflix's most popular film of all time after its June 2025 release. The soundtrack spent multiple weeks in the Billboard 200 top 10, while "Golden" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned five Grammy nominations.
"KPop Demon Hunters" competes against major studio releases including Disney's "Zootopia 2" in the Best Animated Feature category. The film follows HUNTR/X, a K-pop girl group whose members secretly fight supernatural threats while maintaining their pop star careers.
In an unexpected Korean cinema connection, "Bugonia"-the Yorgos Lanthimos-directed remake of Jang Joon-hwan's 2003 Korean cult classic "Save the Green Planet!"-also earned three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.
Awards Season Momentum Builds
Park Chan-wook returns to the Golden Globes just three years after "Decision to Leave" earned a Best Non-English Language Film nomination in 2023. The director praised the recognition for both Korean projects in a recent interview.
"One of the great joys of this awards campaign has been running into [director] Maggie Kang," Park told Variety. "This film truly demonstrates the potential of animation as a medium."
Industry analysts view Lee's nomination as particularly significant given the competitive nature of the Musical or Comedy Actor category. DiCaprio and Chalamet are currently considered frontrunners in the broader Oscar race, making Lee's inclusion alongside them a testament to his acclaimed performance.
"Lee Byung-hun's acting has moved beyond Asia to meet global evaluation standards," Korean film industry experts noted following the announcement. International fans echoed the sentiment on social media, celebrating that Korean actors are finally receiving recognition on par with Hollywood's biggest names.
The Road to January 11
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on January 11, 2026, at 8 PM ET. Comedian Nikki Glaser returns as host for the second consecutive year.
Whether Lee takes home the trophy or not, his nomination alone represents a breakthrough moment for Korean actors in Hollywood. "No Other Choice" will compete for awards as the first Korean film nominated in a main Best Picture category at the Golden Globes-previous Korean films like "Minari" and Oscar winner "Parasite" were restricted to foreign language categories under old eligibility rules.
With Korean content earning six total Golden Globe nominations across film and animation categories, 2025 marks a turning point for Korean entertainment's global recognition. Lee Byung-hun now stands at the center of that historic moment.
