South Korean actress Kim Min Hee praises 21-years-older boyfriend at the Locarno Film Festival

South Korean actress Kim Min Hee at the 2016 Cannes Festival. Photo from Instagram

According to The Straits Times, Kim was honored with the award for her role in South Korean director Hong Sang Soo’s 32nd film, “By The Stream.”

In her acceptance speech, 42-year-old Kim thanked her 63-year-old partner, saying, “I’m truly in love with your films, director Hong. Thank you for creating this beautiful work. I’m grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with you.” She also noted that while the five-day shoot was brief, it was a happy and fulfilling experience.

The film, titled “Suyucheon” in Korean, features Kim as Jeon Yim, a lecturer at a women’s university, marking her 15th collaboration with Hong.

This year marks the fourth time Hong Sang Soo has been invited to the Locarno Film Festival. His previous entries — “Our Sunhee (2013)”, “Right Now, Wrong Then”, and “Hotel By The River (2018)”—all won awards.

According to Nate, Kim and director Hong have been romantically involved since the filming of “Right Now, Wrong Then” in 2015, where Kim played the lead role. After the film’s success, Hong publicly stayed with Kim, leading to a separation from his wife. However, Hong and his wife have not divorced, fueling the scandal that has led to Kim being labeled a “homewrecker.” The couple often attracts attention when attending international film festivals or collaborating on projects together.

Kim Min Hee, 42, with her boyfriend and director Hong Sang Soo, who is 21 years her senior, at a film festival in 2022. Photo from Instagram

Hong, 64, is a widely acclaimed director both in South Korea and globally. His films have been showcased at prestigious film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Locarno. Among his notable works are “Claire’s Camera,” “Hahaha,” and “Night and Day.”

Kim, a 43-year-old renowned actress and model, has made a name for herself with a series of significant roles in films like “Hellcats,” “Actresses,” “Moby Dick,” “Helpless,” “Very Ordinary People,” “No Tears for the Dead,” and “The Handmaiden.” She has earned several accolades, including Best Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards (2016) and Best Actress in the film category at the Baeksang Arts Awards (2013).