Lee Min-jung Faces Backlash Over Controversial Photo at Venice Film Festival

Actress Lee Min-jung, accompanying her husband Lee Byung-hun to the Venice International Film Festival, has found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy.

Lee Min-jung traveled to Venice as her husband Lee Byung-hun's film, 'Inevitability,' was invited to compete at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. While in Venice, she was seen enjoying the sights with the film's leading actress, Son Ye-jin. Lee shared updates on social media, including photos taken by Son.

The controversy arose from a photo taken in front of a church altar. In the image, Lee posed with a luxury handbag prominently displayed against the backdrop of a crucifix. This sparked criticism from international fans and netizens.

Some fans expressed, "This could be deeply shocking and hurtful to Catholic believers," "It's disrespectful to use a sacred place for what looks like a handbag promotion," "Taking photos on the altar was thoughtless," and "The crucifix has been reduced to a mere photo backdrop." Others commented, "Playful poses in a sacred space are inappropriate," and "Such actions are not suitable inside a church, even if they might be outside."

Conversely, some defended Lee, saying, "If photography was allowed, it might not have been restricted," "She might not have known if she's not a believer," and "Anyone can make a mistake." However, the revelation that she posed on the altar intensified the backlash.

Lee Min-jung has continued to share her experiences in Venice but has not addressed the photo controversy.

Meanwhile, director Park Chan-wook's film 'Inevitability' was screened on August 29th as part of the Venice International Film Festival's competition. The film has received praise from major international media, with some predicting its potential for awards. In addition to being a contender at the Venice Film Festival, it has been selected as South Korea's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards.