{
  "id": 1894705,
  "title": "Why does this Korean film couple shun the spotlight at home as awards pile up overseas?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/why-does-this-korean-film-couple-shun-the-spotlight-at-home-as-awards-1894705",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-19T08:37:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20260819/why-does-this-korean-film-couple-shun-the-spotlight-at-home-as-awards-pile-up-overseas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Actress Kim Min-hee and director Hong Sang-soo's on-screen and off-screen relationship has long been shrouded in mystery and controversy within their native South Korea. Despite her success on the global stage, the Korean couple has chosen to remain largely out of the public eye since returning to the country.\n\nKim's performance in Hong's 35th feature film, \"Nowhere to Lay My Eyes,\" earned her the Pardo for Best Performance at the 79th Locarno Film Festival. This marked her second win for Hong in two years, following her award for their earlier collaboration, \"By the Stream.\"\n\nAt the ceremony, Kim expressed her gratitude to her director and colleagues, saying, \"I am deeply grateful to the director, who made a film as beautiful as poetry, and to our colleagues. I'd like to share the award with them.\" She also revealed that she was holding her newborn baby in her arms during the speech, visibly moved by the emotional moment.\n\nKim and Hong's relationship, which they began dating in 2017, has faced criticism in Korea, leading them to keep their personal lives private. However, the mother and filmmaker have made it clear that they intend to focus on their genuine love for each other moving forward.",
  "summary": "Actor Kim Min-hee won praise in Locarno for her performance in her first film shot since giving birth to her first child with director Hong Sang-soo. While she continues to garner critical acclaim abroad, she and Hong have kept a low profile in Korea, where their relationship remains controversial. Kim won the Pardo for Best Performance for her work in Hong's 35th feature film, \"Nowhere to Lay My…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Why does this Korean film couple shun the spotlight at home as awards pile up overseas?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/why-does-this-korean-film-couple-shun-the-spotlight-at-home-as-awards",
        "published": "2026-08-19T07:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}