Recently, Chinese actress Pham Bang Bang caused a stir when sharing a photo taken with Korean director Hwang Dong Hyuk - the person behind the global phenomenon "Squid Game".
The meeting between the two took place at the 19th Asian Film Festival. According to the media, usually, this may just be a courtesy meeting, but the caption attached to the photo is what attracts the most attention.
Pham Bang Bang described this as a "meeting of spirit and creativity", which sparked speculation about the possibility of cooperation between the two.
Pham Bang Bang's move at this time becomes even more noteworthy when director Hwang Dong Hyuk has just announced a new film project called "KO Club".
According to revelations, the initial idea of "KO Club" was cherished by the director right after the resounding success of "Squid Game", the film script is now completed and is in the stage of casting.
Although the development process was delayed due to Netflix's blockbuster series, director Hwang Dong Hyuk has long expressed his desire to implement this bold and dark idea.
The film is inspired by an essay by Italian writer Umberto Eco, discussing generational conflict in modern society.
In "KO Club", this idea is pushed to extreme: the context of the near future, when young people - those under economic pressure and the burden of the aging population - begin to target the elderly. However, the older generation does not succumb but resists, turning the story into a devastating survival battle between generations.
Hwang Dong Hyuk frankly said that the film will address sensitive issues such as pension burden, property inequality and political power inequality between generations.
The most notable thing is the director's warning that "KO Club" will surpass "Squid Game" in both violence and controversialness.
After completing the casting, the film is expected to start filming in the spring of 2027.
Unlike "Squid Game" released via the online platform Netflix, Hwang Dong Hyuk is said to be aiming to release "KO Club" on the big screen.
Meanwhile, Pham Bang Bang was once a famous actress and a powerful figure in the Chinese entertainment industry. However, after the 2018 tax evasion scandal, she was restricted from activities in China.
Since then, Pham Bang Bang has gradually shifted to global projects to find opportunities to return.
In 2025, she participated in the works "Green night" and "Lost and found", showing diverse acting abilities outside the mainland Chinese market.
Notably, in November 2025, Pham Bang Bang won the Best Actress award of the 62nd Golden Horse Film Awards (Taiwan, China), thanks to her role in the movie "Mother bhumi".
Besides acting, she is also active in the international arena, having been a judge at the Berlin International Film Festival and frequently appearing on the global red carpet.
