Given Korea’s cultural sensitivity regarding extramarital births, her professional activities in the country are considered virtually impossible. Kim Min-hee instead seems to be preparing to focus entirely on a new chapter in her life as a mother, despite the difficulties of a late pregnancy.
On January 17, it was revealed that Kim Min-hee had conceived Hong Sang-soo’s child naturally. The baby is growing healthily and is due this spring.
The couple, who have been in a relationship for nine years, currently reside in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province and have reportedly visited a local maternity clinic.
The two have maintained their relationship despite significant social criticism. Hong Sang-soo, born in 1960, is almost sixty years old and close to old age. Kim Min-hee, 22 years his junior, is in her 40s, which makes this late-life pregnancy particularly challenging.
In 2019, Hong lost the divorce case over his affair with Kim Min-hee, but their extramarital affair continued. This scandal not only alienated them from Korean society, but also shifted Hong’s professional focus towards Europe and other international locations. Kim Min-hee, often seen as Hong’s “muse”, has also limited her public appearances to overseas events.
This pregnancy seems to solidify their relationship, symbolizing their commitment to each other. However, the child will inevitably be registered as Hong Sang-soo’s illegitimate child. Legally, the mother listed in the family register is Hong’s estranged wife, making it necessary for Kim Min-hee to register the child under her own name.
Their unyielding contempt for public opinion defines their relationship as a great love story and a source of artistic inspiration for them. However, the emotional toll on others involved, particularly Hong’s legal wife, seems evident. Despite learning of Kim Min-hee’s pregnancy, Hong’s wife maintained a composed and indifferent attitude, further intensifying public criticism of Kim Min-hee.
Kim Min-hee, once celebrated as one of Korea’s top actresses for her roles in films such as “Helpless” and “The Handmaiden,” now faces widespread condemnation. Although some may argue that art and personal life should remain separate, this perspective has little influence in conservative Korean society.
Kim Min-hee has never publicly expressed her thoughts on her nine-year relationship, but her retreat from public life speaks volumes: a defiant prioritization of her love despite causing pain to others.
Inevitably, all his lucrative domestic opportunities, including endorsements, disappeared. Theirs is a love story that, regardless of perspective, appears bizarre and bitter: a love story pursued at all costs, but which leaves a lingering sense of unease.
