Seoul: Actor Lee Byung-hun has been cast as the lead in "K.O. Club," a new film by global megahit "Squid Game" director Hwang Dong-hyuk, the film's production company said Thursday. The film is set in the near future where youth can be purchased, and it explores the generational divide between a small number of privileged and wealthy seniors and the younger generation who lack such power.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the film's title, "K.O. Club," stands for "Killing Oldmen Club," as explained by the production company Firstman Studio. This project marks Hwang Dong-hyuk's return to film directing after a decade-long hiatus since "The Fortress: Namhansanseong" in 2017, a film that also featured Lee Byung-hun.

The cast of the film includes notable actors such as Oh Jung-se, Cho Yeo-jeong, Park Hae-soo, and Kim So-jin. Production is set to commence in the first half of next year, generating anticipation among fans of the director and actors alike.