Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Netflix's global phenomenon "Squid Game," is set to return to the big screen after 10 years with a new film titled "K.O. Club."

Production company Firstman Studio announced Thursday that "K.O. Club" is in the works, unveiling a cast lineup that includes Lee Byung-hun and Oh Jung-se.

The title is short for "Killing Oldmen Club." The film is set in a future where even youth can be bought, and it centers on the conflict between the privileged few — who wield wealth and power and refuse to step aside — and a younger generation deprived of opportunities from the outset. The premise places Hwang back in feature filmmaking after a long stretch in television, at a time when Korean content continues to draw global attention through streaming platforms and theatrical releases alike.

Hwang previously directed the feature films "The Fortress," "Miss Granny" and "Silenced." He then made history with the Netflix megahit "Squid Game," which premiered in September 2021, becoming the first person to win the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding directing for a non-English-language series. "Squid Game" stands as Netflix's most popular series of all time across both its English- and non-English-language titles.

Attention is now turning to what Hwang, now one of the biggest names in global entertainment, will bring to his return to the big screen.

The cast is equally notable. Lee, who worked with Hwang on "Squid Game," will reunite with the director, joined by Oh, Park Hae-soo, Cho Yeo-jeong and Kim So-jin. The lineup brings together actors with experience in both film and high-profile series, underscoring the scale of the project before filming begins. Expectations are high for what the acclaimed cast and Hwang will create together.

"K.O. Club" is scheduled to begin filming in the first half of 2027.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.