Actress Kim Min-hee of “The Handmaiden” and Cannes award-winning film director Hong Sang-soo, who is married with one daughter, are having an affair, local media reported Tuesday.
According to reports, the two apparently met last year while filming “Right Now, Wrong Then,” which was directed by Hong and starred Kim as the female lead, and they have since been involved in an affair. The film opened in theaters last September.
Since then, Hong and Kim have worked together on two yet to be released works.
Hong, 56, married his wife, also 56, in 1985 after meeting her during his studies in the U.S.
At 34, Kim is 22 years younger than the director.
Director Hong Sang-soo (left) and actress Kim Min-hee at the Locarno International Film Festival in August, 2015 (Yonhap)
According to reports, Hong moved out of his home last September and rumors of a suspected affair have been circulating among film industry insiders since last year.
Kim parted ways with her agency Management Soop in January after her contract with the agency expired and has since been operating with private staff.
Hong, who debuted in 1996 and is known for small budget arthouse films such as Cannes winner “Hahaha” (2010) and “Our Sunhi” (2013), is often referred to as “Korea’s Woody Allen” among foreign critics,
Kim recently starred as Japanese heiress Hideko in Park Chan-wook’s film “The Handmaiden,” which competed at this year‘s Cannes Film Festival.
Hong was also present at Cannes last month to film his new movie starring Isabelle Huppert and guest-starring Kim.
Reports say Hong is currently in the U.S. attending a film festival, while Kim has left for the U.S. after wrapping up promotional activities for “The Handmaiden.”
Neither party has commented on the reports.
By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)