Archive · 13 Aug 2025
Park Chan-wook Expelled from WGA over Strike Violations
Park Chan-wook and his writing partner, Don McKellar, were kicked out of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) because the union thought they broke the rules during a strike last year.
They were working on their show 'The Sympathizer.'
Their team says they finished writing and filming before the strike.
A group within the WGA said they should just get a warning, but the top leaders decided to kick them out anyway.
The writers didn't argue because it would take too long.
It's not the end of their careers, but they will have to pay a fee to work on union projects.
The WGA hasn't said why they made this decision.
Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar were expelled from the WGA for allegedly violating strike rules during 'The Sympathizer'.
The duo's team stated they completed the script and began filming before the strike.
A WGA jury initially recommended a confidential warning, but the Board of Directors voted for expulsion.
Park and McKellar chose not to appeal due to time constraints.
The WGA has not commented on the specific reasons for the expulsion.
- Who
- Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, the WGA, and members involved in the disciplinary process.
- What
- Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar's expulsion from the WGA.
- When
- The expulsion occurred recently, after an investigation into their actions during the 2023 WGA strike.
- Where
- The WGA, related to work on the series 'The Sympathizer'.
- Why
- Alleged violations of WGA strike rules during the production of 'The Sympathizer'.
WGA Board's Position
Writers' Perspective
Severity of the Violations
WGA Board's Position
Maintains the writers violated strike rules and warranted expulsion, overriding the jury's recommendation.
Writers' Perspective
The writers and their team claim any actions were unintentional and based on a misunderstanding, asserting they completed writing before the strike.
- Event
- WGA Expulsion
- Writers
- Park Chan-wook & Don McKellar
- Series
- The Sympathizer
- Violation
- Alleged Strike Rule Violations
- Initial Recommendation
- Confidential Warning
- WGA Board Decision
- Expulsion