SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- Director Lee Chang-dong's first short film, "Heartbeat" (2022), will be released on Netflix on Nov. 2.

"Heartbeat" is a 28-minute film about Cheol-i, a boy whose mother suffers from depression and whose father stages a protest atop a tower crane. Kim Gun-woo plays Cheol-i.

Jeon Do-yeon plays Cheol-i's mother, while Sol Kyung-gu plays his father.

The film began with a proposal from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF). The two organizations commissioned directors around the world to make films on the theme of depression, and Lee directed "Heartbeat," which was unveiled at the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival in 2022. It has never had a formal theatrical release.

The film is also connected to Lee's new Netflix film "No Other Choice." Lee had long carried a story about laid-off SsangYong Motor workers in his mind, which led to the production of "Heartbeat" and "No Other Choice." Jeon Do-yeon and Sol Kyung-gu, who starred in "Heartbeat," and screenwriter Oh Jung-mi also worked together on "No Other Choice."

"No Other Choice" won the Silver Lion, or Grand Jury Prize, at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival held last month.

Netflix will present all of Lee's films, from "Green Fish" (1997) to "No Other Choice," to audiences worldwide. "No Other Choice" will be released on Netflix on Nov. 6.

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