Director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee were recently spotted at Incheon International Airport with their young son, sparking fresh public discussion about one of South Korea’s most talked-about couples.
Few relationships in Korean entertainment have generated as much sustained attention as the one between celebrated film director Hong Sang-soo and acclaimed actress Kim Min-hee. The two first connected on a film set over a decade ago, and their relationship has remained a fixture of public conversation ever since. Now, with a baby son in tow, the couple’s latest airport appearance has once again put them firmly in the spotlight.
The Airport Sighting: What Eyewitnesses Saw
The sighting took place at Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s largest and busiest international hub. Accounts and photographs shared across Korean online communities quickly drew widespread attention. Here is a full breakdown of what witnesses reported:
Kim Min-hee’s Appearance
- She wore a casual cap and dressed in a relaxed but stylish outfit
- She pushed her son’s stroller while carrying a large bag
- Eyewitnesses described her as looking “less glamorous than before but still naturally beautiful”
Hong Sang-soo’s Appearance
- He dressed in a more classic, coordinated outfit, contrasting with Kim Min-hee’s casual look
- He actively helped care for their child throughout the outing
Their Son
- The baby was seated in the stroller as the family moved through the airport
- One witness described him simply as “really cute,” adding that babies grow up so fast
The General Scene
- At least one additional person, likely a nanny or manager, accompanied the family
- Neither Hong Sang-soo nor Kim Min-hee wore masks, and both moved naturally and calmly without paying particular attention to onlookers
- Despite their low-key demeanour, witnesses noted that people around them began whispering as they recognised the couple
- One witness noted: “Many Koreans recognised them right away”
The timing of the sighting has led many to speculate that the family was heading out on a trip ahead of their son’s first birthday, which falls in April 2026.
Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee: Full Relationship Timeline
Understanding the full context of this couple’s story makes the airport sighting all the more significant. Here is a complete timeline of their relationship:
| Year | Event |
| 2015 | Hong Sang-soo directs Right Now, Wrong Then; Kim Min-hee stars as the female lead. The two meet on set. |
| 2016 | Despite a 22-year age gap and Hong Sang-soo’s existing marriage, a romantic relationship develops between them |
| 2017 | At a press preview for the film On the Beach at Night Alone, the couple publicly acknowledges their relationship and the controversy surrounding it |
| 2019 | Hong Sang-soo loses his divorce lawsuit, meaning he legally remains married to his wife |
| April 2025 | Kim Min-hee gives birth to a son at an obstetrics clinic in Gyeonggi-do; she recovers at a postpartum care centre |
| March 2026 | The couple and their son are spotted together at Incheon International Airport in one of their most visible family outings to date |
Key Facts About the Couple
There are several important confirmed details worth understanding about Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee’s situation:
- The two have been in a relationship for 11 years, having first connected during the production of the 2015 film Right Now, Wrong Then
- Hong Sang-soo remains legally married to his wife, with whom he has a grown daughter, following his failed divorce lawsuit in 2019
- Kim Min-hee gave birth to their son in April 2025, making this the first child she and Hong Sang-soo share together
- The son is notably Hong Sang-soo’s first son, as his previous marriage produced only a daughter
- Hong Sang-soo first married his wife during his time studying in the United States in 1985
- The couple has maintained a consistent and open public presence since first acknowledging their relationship in 2017, and this airport appearance is among their most notable outings as a family of three
How the Public Reacted
The photographs and eyewitness accounts spread rapidly across Korean online communities following the sighting. Reactions were predictably mixed, as they tend to be when this particular couple makes the news.
Some commenters focused on the baby, expressing warmth at seeing the family together and noting how quickly the child has grown since birth reports in April 2025. Others revisited longstanding discussions about Hong Sang-soo’s marital status and the circumstances surrounding the relationship.
However, what stood out to many observers this time was how relaxed and unbothered the couple appeared in a very public setting. Moving through a busy international airport without masks, without apparent concern about recognition, and without any visible effort to avoid attention, the couple presented a picture of quiet confidence in their family life, regardless of how others continue to view it.
For fans of Kim Min-hee in particular, who remains one of South Korea’s most respected and critically acclaimed actresses, the sighting offered a rare and candid glimpse into her personal world outside of filmmaking.
Source: Star News Korea
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