Actress Kim Min-hee (42) and director Hong Sang-soo (64) have entered a new phase after a 10-year affair. The news that the two are expecting their first child out of wedlock has sparked controversy in the entertainment industry and among the public.
According to a report by Dispatch on the 17th, Kim Min-hee is currently six months pregnant and has confirmed her pregnancy while visiting an obstetrics and gynecology clinic with Hong Sang-soo. The couple is reportedly preparing for childbirth without regard for the public's gaze, and it has also been reported that Hong Sang-soo is taking driving lessons again in preparation for after the birth.
Hong Sang-soo married his wife, referred to as A, whom he met during his studies in the United States in 1985, and they have a daughter together. However, since officially acknowledging his affair with Kim Min-hee in 2017, he has not yet proceeded with divorce. As a result, the child Kim Min-hee is expecting may be registered as an illegitimate child in Hong Sang-soo's family registry, raising new controversies regarding family relationship registration. There is also a possibility that Hong Sang-soo's wife A, rather than Kim Min-hee, could be listed as the child's mother, drawing attention to potential legal issues.
It is reported that Hong Sang-soo's wife A was unaware of Kim Min-hee's pregnancy news. In a phone call with a media outlet, she responded briefly, saying, “I had no idea at all,” and “Thank you for letting me know.” This reaction has caused a significant shock among netizens.
Public reactions to the news of Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo's pregnancy are mixed. Opinions range from “What crime has the child committed?” to concerns like “At 64, being a father, I worry about the child's future.” Additionally, comments asking, “I wonder how the family registry will be handled,” are also emerging. Attention is focused on whether their relationship can transcend social norms and legal standards.
Meanwhile, since the two are expected to give birth this spring, it is reported that they are quietly staying out of the public eye. There is growing interest in how the child's family relationships will be organized after birth and how it will affect Hong Sang-soo's film activities.
With the news of the illegitimate child’s pregnancy, Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo are once again under scrutiny. Attention is drawn to the outcomes of the choices the two have made in the name of love.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
