Hong Sang-soo Mentions Kim Min-hee at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival

Director Hong Sang-soo attended the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where he made a point to mention his partner, actress Kim Min-hee. The press conference for his film 'What Does the Nature Say to You?' took place on February 20 in Berlin.

On February 19, Kim Min-hee was spotted traveling to Germany with Hong while visibly pregnant, raising speculation about their joint appearance at the festival. However, she did not attend the press conference, which featured Hong alongside actors Ha Sung-koo, Kwon Hae-hyo, Jo Yoon-hee, and Kang So-yi.

Hong's latest film, his 33rd feature, revolves around a thirty-something poet named Dong-hwa who unexpectedly visits his lover Jun-hee's home. Kim Min-hee contributed to the film as a production manager.

Although Kim was absent from the event, Hong mentioned her during a discussion about the film's budget, stating, "I don’t calculate a separate budget. The number of people we need to make the film is three production managers and one boom operator," directly referencing Kim.

The couple began their relationship in 2015 while working on the film 'Right Now, Wrong Then' and have maintained a controversial relationship for nearly a decade. Reports suggest that Kim is six months pregnant and is expected to give birth this spring. It was revealed that she learned of her pregnancy last summer, and Hong has been by her side for all medical check-ups.

On February 19, Kim was seen at the airport wearing sunglasses and a black mask, dressed in a long coat, clearly showing her pregnancy.

This marks Hong Sang-soo's sixth consecutive invitation to the Berlin International Film Festival, following previous films such as 'The Woman Who Ran,' 'Introduction,' 'The Novelist's Film,' 'In Water,' and 'The Need for Travelers.'