[Stage Voices] Lim Yunchan's Interview and "No Other Choice"

Pianist Cho Seongjin rose to global prominence exactly ten years ago around this time, when he won the Chopin Competition, renowned as one of the most prestigious classical music competitions. Even for Cho Seongjin, the stress experienced on the fiercely competitive stage of a competition was substantial. In his acceptance speech, Cho said, "I am happy that I never have to participate in a competition again." He also mentioned in an interview that he sometimes has nightmares about entering the Chopin Competition again. Many musicians' careers begin with competition prizes, and it is well known that Korean performers, in particular, are subjected to competitions from a young age.

Another Korean pianist, Lim Yunchan, who has also gained international attention alongside Cho Seongjin, recently became a topic of discussion for an interview with Italian media two months ago. Provocative words such as "hell" and "death," which he used to describe the hardships of studying music in Korea, have drawn belated attention domestically. However, it appears that Lim Yunchan's main point was to highlight Korea's intense culture of competition.

A classical music critic commented, "Lim Yunchan's usual performance style is very free-spirited and candid," adding, "Perhaps because it was a foreign media interview, he was as free and honest as he is on stage, which may have been the issue, but in fact, nothing he said was wrong." The critic continued, "It seems he spoke out of a wish that younger musicians would not be so overwhelmed by competition and could receive more consideration," and added, "It makes me feel sympathetic, wondering how frustrated he must have been to say such things."

Movie still cut from "No Other Choice"

Concerns about the culture of fierce competition are nothing new. On the other hand, it is undeniable that competition has been a driving force behind Korea's rapid development. However, because competition is often seen as the engine of growth, voices warning against excessive competition tend to be drowned out.

In this context, director Park Chanwook's new film "No Other Choice," which was released on September 24, can be seen as a thought-provoking black comedy. The protagonist, Yoo Mansoo (played by Lee Byunghun), who has lost his job, chooses to murder his competitors rather than resist the all-too-familiar structure of competition in his quest to find new employment. While the film may seem uncomfortably excessive at times, it also evokes sympathy, making viewers wonder just how desperate one must be to act that way.

Adam Smith believed that self-interest promotes the good of society as a whole. However, he emphasized that this is only possible as long as it does not harm others. In other words, Smith underscored the need to restrain excessive competition. He also stressed the importance of empathy to ensure that selfish behavior does not undermine social order.

Scenes in which Yoo Mansoo tightly shuts his eyes or acts awkwardly each time he kills a competitor suggest that he does possess empathy. However, Yoo Mansoo ultimately commits murder, insisting that he has no other choice within the capitalist social structure that forces competition.

Amid sharply divided audience reviews, "No Other Choice" is on the verge of surpassing 3 million viewers, exceeding the 1.9 million achieved by director Park Chanwook's previous film "Decision to Leave." So far this year, only six films have surpassed the 3 million mark.

There are numerous scenes in our society that seem to reveal the negative side of extreme competition. Whenever I see lawmakers engaging in unimaginable verbal abuse and disgraceful behavior, I think, "They are people who must defeat their opponents in the next brutal election, even if it means destroying them." The astronomical rise in real estate prices may also reflect the sense of entitlement among those who have won in the competition, thinking, "After all the hardship, I deserve to enjoy at least this much."