Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee Welcome Son After 10-Year Affair, Public Reacts to Extramarital Birth
In a development that has reignited public debate, director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee, who previously caused an uproar by publicly acknowledging their extramarital affair, have reportedly welcomed a child together.
Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee Welcome Son After 10-Year Affair: Netizens Reactions
According to film industry insiders, Kim Min-hee recently gave birth to a son and is currently recovering at a postpartum care center in Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province. The child, born outside of marriage, may be registered on Hong Sang-soo’s family register, or solely under Kim Min-hee’s, depending on their decision.
According to OSEN, it has also been confirmed that the couple affectionately refer to each other as “Yeobo,” a Korean term of endearment equivalent to “honey” or “darling.”
However, the news has sparked widespread public debate. Many netizens criticized the nature of their relationship. Hong and Kim openly acknowledged their affair years ago and have continued to live as a couple ever since. Now, the birth of their child has provoked strong online reactions. Some commenters wrote, “They went through with it after all,” and “Registering an illegitimate son will be legally complicated.” Others offered a more empathetic view, “What did the baby ever do wrong?” and “Regardless of the controversy, the birth of a life should be celebrated.”
Kim Min-hee Accompanied Hong Sang-soo for the Berlin International Film Festival
News of Kim’s pregnancy first broke in January, and by February, the couple made headlines again when Kim was spotted visibly pregnant at Incheon International Airport, standing beside Hong. Despite her advanced pregnancy and age, Kim accompanied Hong to Germany for the Berlin International Film Festival, where his latest work “What Does That Nature Say to You” was selected for competition.
During their trip to Berlin, Kim Min-hee, credited as a production manager for the film, was notably absent from public events, including the photocall and press conference. Meanwhile, Hong addressed the media alongside cast members Ha Seong-guk, Kwon Hae-hyo, Jo Yoon-hee, and Kang So-i. When asked about his creative process, Hong gave a characteristic response, “I don’t really know. You might think it’s a lazy answer, but I wrote the script the day before or on the day of shooting, based on what came to mind.”
Despite the buzz surrounding the couple and the film, it ultimately did not win any awards at the festival. Still, this marked Hong Sang-soo’s sixth consecutive appearance at Berlin, a streak that includes previous award-winning works.
Controversial Love Affair
Hong’s personal life has long been the subject of public scrutiny. He married Ms. A, a woman his age, in 1985 while studying in the U.S., and they have a daughter. In 2016, he filed for divorce mediation, but the process collapsed when his wife refused to receive the legal documents.
Hong and Kim met in 2015 while filming “Right Now, Wrong Then,” and their romantic relationship was publicly confirmed in March 2017 during a press conference for “On the Beach at Night Alone,” when they described themselves as being “in love.”
Currently, Hong Sang-soo is 65 years old, and Kim Min-hee is 43. Their newborn son is the first known child of their highly scrutinized relationship, further complicating the public’s perception of their decade-long affair.
While both Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee have remained largely silent about the birth, the news has reignited strong public reactions and ethical debates. With a child now involved, questions arise about the personal and professional implications for both figures, especially as they continue to collaborate within the film industry.