Kim Min-hee Has Wanted a Baby with Hong Sang-soo for a Long Time, Said Eyewitness
On January 19th, a post was made on an community titled, “Seeing Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee’s pregnancy, I think they might have been waiting for a baby for a longer time than I thought.”
In this post, the author wrote, “Around 2019, I saw the two of them at Starbucks in Hanam, and when Kim Min-hee saw the baby at the table next to her, she looked at him with really sweet eyes and asked if she could hold him just once. Then she hugged him and loved him so much that she kept holding him and told Hong Sang-soo that he was so pretty. I remember being surprised at how confident he was, even though it had only been a few years since they started their affair.”
Afterwards, another eyewitness account was posted in the comments of the post, saying, “I could be remembering the date wrong for that post, or it could be another day, but my eldest son met the two at Hanam Starfield and and saw a similar scene.”
Although there are a no photo, the post in question draws a lot of attention.
Meanwhile, previously on January 17, it was revealed that Kim Min-hee had conceived Hong Sang-soo‘s child naturally. The baby is growing healthily, with the due date expected this spring.
The couple, who have been in a relationship for nine years, currently reside in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province and have reportedly been visiting a local obstetrics clinic.
The two have maintained their relationship despite significant societal criticism. Hong Sang-soo, born in 1960, is in his late 60s, nearing old age. Kim Min-hee, 22 years his junior, is in her 40s, making this late-life pregnancy particularly challenging.
In 2019, Hong lost his divorce case due to his affair with Kim Min-hee, yet their extramarital relationship has continued. This scandal not only alienated them from Korean society but also shifted Hong’s professional focus to Europe and other international venues. Kim Min-hee, often seen as Hong’s “muse”, has also limited her public appearances to overseas events.
This pregnancy appears to solidify their relationship, symbolizing their mutual commitment. However, the child will inevitably be registered as Hong Sang-soo’s illegitimate offspring. Legally, the mother listed in the family registry is Hong’s estranged wife, making it necessary for Kim Min-hee to register the child under her own name.
Their unyielding disregard for public opinion frames their relationship as a grand romance and a source of artistic inspiration for them. Yet, the emotional toll on others involved, particularly Hong’s legal wife, seems evident. Despite learning of Kim Min-hee’s pregnancy, Hong’s wife has maintained a composed and indifferent stance, 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 like “Helpless” and “The Handmaiden”, now faces widespread condemnation. While some may argue that art and personal life should remain separate, this perspective holds little sway in Korea’s conservative society.
Kim Min-hee has never publicly expressed her thoughts on her nine-year affair, but her withdrawal from public life speaks volumes: a defiant prioritization of her love despite causing pain to others.
Inevitably, all her lucrative domestic opportunities, including endorsements, have disappeared. Theirs is a romance that, regardless of perspective, appears bizarre and bitter—a story of love pursued at all costs, but one that leaves a lingering sense of discomfort.