Two movies were invited... Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee, who had an 8-year affair, will not attend the Vice International Festival again this year.

Director Hong Sang-soo (62) and actress Kim Min-hee (41), who are active in overseas film festivals, are expected to not participate in the 28th Busan International Film Festival again.

The 28th Busan International Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as Busan International Film Festival) will be held in the area of Busan Cinema Center for ten days from the 4th to the 13th. Two films directed by Hong Sang-soo and with Kim Min-hee as production director and lead actor were invited to the official screening at this year's sub-international festival, but they are not expected to be seen at the official event.

According to the Vice International Festival, director Hong Sang-soo's 'In the Water' (Berlin Film Festival Encounters) and 'Our Day' (Cannes Film Festival Director's Week closing film) were listed in the Icon section and selected as official cut films. Icon is a section that introduces new works by contemporary masters, and two works by director Hong were selected.

However, it is expected that we will not be able to see director Hong Sang-soo. Hong Sang-soo has been seen attending overseas film festivals with his partner Kim Min-hee several times, but he has stopped attending domestic film festivals for a long time.

In the background is Kim Min-hee, and Director Hong, who is legally married, admitted to having an affair with Kim Min-hee at a press conference for 'Alone on the Beach at Night' in March 2017, and then virtually built a wall with domestic events and the media. At the Cannes Film Festival in the same year, Hong Sang-soo stayed away from domestic reporters and only interviewed foreign reporters.

Two movies were invited... Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee, who had an 8-year affair, will not attend the Vice International Festival again this year.
What makes Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee's absence even more awkward is that events such as GVs (conversations with the audience) related to 'Our Day' and 'In the Water' are held as a ritual. At the 'Our Day' GV held on the 6th, actor Ki Joo-bong and Park Mi-so will attend in place of Kim Min-hee, the main character with a large role. Also, on the 7th, Ha Seong-guk and Kim Seung-yoon, the leads of 'In the Water', are scheduled to attend the GV event.

Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee, who callously turned their backs on domestic audiences, have been attracting inappropriate audiences for eight years. At the last Cannes Film Festival, only director Hong Sang-soo and Ki Joo-bong appeared on stage without Kim Min-hee, sparking rumors of discord between the two, but it is said that there has been no significant change in their relationship.

Two movies were invited... Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee, who had an 8-year affair, will not attend the Vice International Festival again this year.
In addition, 'Our Day' has been confirmed to be released in Korea on the 19th. The story alternates between Sang-won (Kim Min-hee), a 40-year-old actress who stays at the home of an acquaintance who owns a cat after retirement, and Ui-ju (Ki Joo-bong), a poet in his 70s who lives alone, as visitors visit them.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr
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