Actress Kim Min Hee has added another trophy to her acting career with her recent win at the Locarno Film Festival. While there is growing interest in the possibility of Kim Min Hee resuming her activities in South Korea, it remains uncertain whether she will take on other projects, as she has previously expressed her love for Hong Sang Soo’s films.

On August 18 KST, Kim Min Hee received the Best Actress Award in the international competition section at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland for her role in the film "By the Stream" the latest work by director Hong Sang Soo, who is also her partner. Hong has a long-standing connection with the Locarno Film Festival, having won the Best Director Award in 2013 for "Our Sunhi" and the top prize, the Golden Leopard, in 2015 for "Right Now, Wrong Then."

On stage, Kim Min Hee expressed her gratitude, saying, "I sincerely thank you. I thank the actors and the audience." She then turned to director Hong and said, "Thank you for creating such a beautiful film. I love your movies so much. I’m grateful to work with you," before returning to her seat to share the joy with him.

With this award, Kim Min Hee has not only added another achievement to her acting career but also reaffirmed her unwavering relationship with director Hong Sang Soo. Kim Min Hee has been in a relationship with Hong since their 2015 film "Right Now, Wrong Then," and for the past nine years, she has been involved exclusively in Hong’s world, taking on various roles from actress to production manager and on-set photographer. She has worked on a total of 15 films with him.

However, it’s not that the Korean film industry hasn’t shown interest in Kim Min Hee. After the scandal broke when she was at the peak of her acting career with Park Chan Wook’s 2016 film "The Handmaiden," there were many who expressed regret and tried to persuade her to return to mainstream projects.

But Kim Min Hee stood firm. In 2017, two years after admitting to the affair, she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival for her role in "On the Beach at Night Alone." At the time, she made it clear that appearing in commercial films held little significance for her. When asked at a press conference if she intended to remain as Hong Sang Soo’s muse indefinitely, she responded, "I am satisfied with the work given to me. Working with Hong Sang Soo is too precious."

The reason filmmakers and audiences have longed for Kim Min Hee is simple: they see the value and potential in her as an actress. Kim Min Hee is one of the few actors who overcame the labels of being a former model and having wooden acting through sheer talent. She consistently set new career highs with each role. The turning point was the 2006 drama "Goodbye Solo," followed by films like "Hellcats," "Actresses," and "Helpless," which led to her blossoming as an actress. She continued to build her career with "Very Ordinary Couple" and "No Tears for the Dead," ultimately soaring to new heights with "The Handmaiden."

Despite the commercial risks, some productions continued to reach out to Kim Min Hee, but she reportedly declined all offers.

It seems that Kim Min Hee has no plans to resume activities in South Korea, as she only accompanies director Hong to international film festivals and has not made any public appearances in Korea since the domestic premiere of "On the Beach at Night Alone."

Unlike others who admit their mistakes and go into self-reflection, Kim Min Hee has continued to display her love publicly. This behavior, which has persisted for nine years, has worn down public sentiment, leading to a sense of fatigue that surpasses any lingering fondness or regret for the actress.

Public opinion has also shifted over time. When she won the Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival for "On the Beach at Night Alone," there was still significant interest in her, with many hoping for her return despite the negative opinions. However, when she recently won the Best Actress award at the Locarno Film Festival, the response was largely indifferent.

Cultural critic Ha Jae Geun commented, "Kim Min Hee was once a very hot and trendy star. Later, she became the subject of public outrage due to her affair with Hong Sang Soo, which attracted further attention. But as she continued to appear exclusively in Hong’s films over the years, public interest gradually faded."

He added, "It won’t be easy for her to make a comeback. Even if she were to appear in a project other than Hong Sang Soo’s, it’s unlikely that she would be welcomed, given the high ethical standards regarding affairs in Korea. The negative reactions will persist, but she won’t become a hot topic again."

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