Hong Sang Soo marks 30 years of filmmaking as Kim Min Hee and their child draw public attention

South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang Soo is set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his directorial debut with a major retrospective, while renewed public attention surrounds his family life involving actress Kim Min Hee.

The Korean Film Archive (KOFA) will host a special program titled 'Hong Sang Soo Retrospective: Introduction' at Cinematheque KOFA from May 2 to June 13. The event marks three decades of Hong Sang Soo’s filmmaking career and will present a comprehensive overview of his works.

The retrospective will screen all 34 of Hong Sang Soo’s feature films, beginning with his 1996 debut 'The Day a Pig Fell into the Well' into the Well and continuing through his upcoming 34th feature 'The Day She Returns,' scheduled for release on May 6, 2026. Over the past 30 years, he has maintained a prolific output, directing more than one film annually on average.

Each film will be screened twice, reflecting Hong Sang Soo’s signature aesthetic concept of “variation” through programming design. The first screening cycle at Theater 1 will follow chronological order from earliest to latest works, while the second cycle at Theater 2 will present the films in reverse order, offering audiences two contrasting viewing experiences of the same filmography. Full screening schedules are available on the Korean Film Archive’s official website.

Meanwhile, Hong Sang Soo’s upcoming film 'The Day She Returns' has also drawn attention, with Kim Min Hee participating as production director.

Hong Sang Soo and Kim Min Hee, who have a 22-year age gap and have long attracted public scrutiny over their relationship, reportedly welcomed a son in April 2025. In March, eyewitness reports of the couple and their child at Incheon International Airport circulated online, further intensifying media interest. With a major career milestone and ongoing personal developments, Hong Sang Soo remains a prominent and closely watched figure in contemporary Korean cinema.