Both were born in 1982 and debuted in 1999, but the reactions towards Son Ye-jin and Kim Min-hee’s rings are so different
Both actors are seen at recent events with a ring on their fingers. Regardless of the ring, the public is reacting 180 degrees differently to each actor despite both being born in 1982.
The “Nation’s first love” Son Ye-jin laughed ahead of her marriage with her “now first love” Hyun Bin, and Kim Min-hee, labeled “an affair woman,” laughed after receiving an award with her “seven-year lover” director Hong Sang-soo. In the midst of this, the rings on their fingers became a hot topic. Regardless of the ring, the public is reacting 180 degrees differently to each actor despite both being born in 1982.
On the afternoon of Feb 16th, Son Ye-jin appeared on tvN’s “Yoo Quiz on the Block“. As Son Ye-jin is rarely seen on entertainment shows, she became a hot topic with her appearance on “Yoo Quiz,” added to the viewers’ interest which has doubled shortly after the recent news of her marriage to top star Hyun Bin.
On this day, Son Ye-jin said about the title of “Nation’s First Love,” “For how long will be called with that title? As time passes by, I can’t accept it anymore, so please make another title that is more fitting for my age.”
Son Ye-jin then paused for a while when asked, “Who is the first love of the “Nation’s first love?” before answering, “My current love is my first love.” The production team added subtitles along with videos of Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin, saying, “Congratulations on your marriage.”
Meanwhile, viewers’ attention was focused on the silver ring worn on Son Ye-jin’s ring finger. After the broadcast, fans speculated that it was not an engagement or wedding ring with Hyun Bin. Articles related to this ring poured out, and the netizen investigation team even searched for the brand and product name of the ring.
In response, Son Ye-jin explained, “It is not a wedding ring, but a fashion ring sponsored and worn at the time.” Fans were discouraged by the “wedding ring” story, but continued to cheer for the couple’s marriage.
On the same day, Kim Min-hee drew keen attention as she attended the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival in Germany with her lover, director Hong Sang-soo. Director Hong Sang-soo received the Silver Bear for his 27th feature movie “The Novelist’s Film”. He won Best Director for “The Woman Who Ran” in 2020 and Best Screenplay for “Introduction” last year. Therefore, this year’s award is his 3rd consecutive year and the 4th time winning the Silver Bear. The Silver Bear is an award given to excellent works, which is regarded as the second-place award after the Golden Bear.
After his name was announced as the winner, Hong Sang-soo called his lover Kim Min-hee to go on the stage. Kim Min-hee greeted and said, “I could feel that the audiences truly loved this movie. It was so touching and I think I will never forget this. Thank you”.
Showing up at the Red Carpet after the awards ceremony, Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo expressed their happiness while holding the Silver Bear statue tightly. In particular, netizens only focused on the thin couple rings worn on the two’s fingers. The two’s expressions, actions, and rings attracted much more attention than the honorable award they received at the Berlin Film Festival, which is one of the top 3 film festivals in the world.
Director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee developed into lovers after working together in the movie “Right Now, Wrong Then”, which was released in 2015. Admitting to their love affair at the press conference for “On the Beach at Night Alone”, which was held in March 2017, the two said, “We are in love with each other”.
Two actresses drew netizens’ attention on the same day with their “ring”. Coincidentally, the two also have something in common. In particular, their year of birth and debut year is the same. Son Ye-jin was born on January 11th, 1982, while Kim Min-hee was born on March 1st, 1982. In addition, Son Ye-jin made her debut in 1999 through the CF “Man with Flowers”, and Kim Min-hee also debuted in the same year with KBS’s teen drama “School 2”. Beginning from the early 200s, both became top stars after starring in various movies and dramas. Currently, one is mentioned along with “couple of the century”, and one with “affair couple”. This is why the two received different reactions despite attracting attention for their rings on the same day.
