Hong Sangsoo's Wife Speaks Out on 'Kim Minhee Pregnancy': "I Had No Idea"

Kim Minhee Reported to Be Six Months Pregnant
Hong's Wife Says "I Didn't Know"

Film director Hong Sangsoo (64) and actress Kim Minhee (42), who are living together, have been revealed to be expecting a child, while it has been confirmed that Hong's wife was unaware of this fact.

According to a report by K-Star News on the 17th, Hong's wife, Ms. Jo, said, "I had no idea (about Kim Minhee's pregnancy). Thank you for letting me know." Earlier that morning, Dispatch reported, "Kim Minhee is naturally pregnant with Hong Sangsoo's child and is currently six months pregnant." According to the report, the two found out about the pregnancy last summer, and the expected due date is this spring. Hong has accompanied Kim Minhee for pregnancy confirmations, tests, and check-ups, and they visited the obstetrics and gynecology clinic together on the 15th.

Director Hong Sangsoo and actress Kim Minhee. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Hong met Ms. Jo during his studies in the United States in 1985, married her, and they have a daughter. In 2016, he filed for divorce mediation against Ms. Jo, but it failed, and after his 2019 divorce lawsuit was dismissed, he gave up on appealing.

The inappropriate relationship between Kim Minhee and Hong Sangsoo has continued for nine years. They met in 2015 as director and actress for the film Right Now, Wrong Then and admitted to their affair in 2017. Hong left his home in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where he lived with his legal wife, and established a residence in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, where Kim Minhee's parents live. The two have lived together for several years, and have been spotted shopping near their home. Since their affair became public, they have not appeared at official domestic events but have attended overseas film festivals together. Kim Minhee has consistently appeared in Hong's works such as Heavenly Forest, Claire's Camera, Grass, Hotel by the Riverside, The Day He Arrives, Introduction, In Front of Your Face, A Novel Actress, Hill of Freedom, On the Beach at Night Alone, and The Traveler's Need.

Meanwhile, Kim Minhee starred in Hong's 32nd feature film Introduction and won the Best Actress award at the Locarno International Film Festival last August. In her acceptance speech, she said, "Director Hong, who made such a beautiful film, I love your films so much," and "Thank you for letting me work with you." After receiving the award, Kim was seen resting her head on Hong's shoulder, expressing her joy.