Hong Sang-soo shared happy moments when receiving Silver Bear at Berlin International Film Festival with 8-year mistress Kim Min-hee

Director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee appeared in public for the first time in two years and showed off their loving relationship.

Director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee were awarded the Silver Bear Award for the movie “The Novelist’s Film” at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival held on February 16th (local time).

Director Hong Sang-soo, who took the stage at the awards ceremony, called his lover Kim Min-hee, who also appeared in the movie, on stage. When Kim Min-hee came up to the stage, director Hong Sang-soo said, “You have to say a word. Take off your mask,” smiling affectionately.

Kim Min-hee said, “Thank you so much. When I watched the movie earlier, I felt that the audience truly loved it. I couldn’t say thank you at the time, but it was really touching. I don’t think I’ll forget the moment when I watched the movie this time. Thank you so much,” she cried.

Hong Sang-soo then interpreted Kim Min-hee‘s feelings and delivered them to the audience. Kim Min-hee, who was in the back, wiped away tears while watching Hong Sang-soo. Since then, the two have shown off their strong relationship by taking a commemorative photo with their hands wrapping around each other’s backs. 

Director Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee developed into lovers through the movie “Right Now, Wrong Then” released in 2015. Director Hong caused a stir by officially acknowledging his affair with Kim Min-hee, saying, “We are in love,” at a media preview of the movie “On the Beach at Night Alone” held in 2017.

As of 2019, Hong has lost a divorce suit with his wife and is still married according to the law. Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, he has been in an affair with his lover Kim Min-hee for eight years.