Park Chan-wook to announce shock retirement?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Seoul
  • Last updated on

Park created a stir on Monday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

Sad news for Park fans. Speculation had been rife that the Korean director best known for Thirst, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance or Joint Security Area, will announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 62, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 03/02/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a director isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a director-screenwriter-producer just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouChan-wook

For a little while on Monday evening, #ThankYouChan-wook was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouChan-wook.”
— @DesireePlum, 2 Feb 2026
“Park wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 2 Feb 2026

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