Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee remain one of the most talked-about couples in Korean entertainment. Their relationship has drawn attention for many years because it involves love, controversy, family conflict, and legal issues. Many readers also want clear answers about Hong Sang-soo’s wife, daughter, and Kim Min-hee’s personal life.
This article gives a full and accurate update as of March 2026. It explains when they first met, when they confirmed their relationship, where they have lived, and clears up common search terms like “hong sang-soo ex wife” and “kim min hee husband.”
Hong Sang Soo and Kim Min Hee Relationship Timeline
Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee first met in 2015 while working on the film Right Now, Wrong Then. Hong directed the movie, and Kim played the lead role. The film was released in September 2015. Their professional meeting soon became the start of a relationship that would later become public.
Their relationship was officially confirmed on March 13, 2017. This happened at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance in Seoul during the press conference for On the Beach at Night Alone. At that event, Hong said, “We are in a loving relationship,” while Kim said, “We are dating with genuine feelings.”
After the public admission, reports confirmed the couple began living together around 2017. They were first linked to a home in Oksu-dong, Seoul, and later moved to Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. Since then, they have maintained a quiet domestic life there, largely avoiding the South Korean public eye while frequently appearing together at international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, and Locarno.
As of March 2026, contrary to various online rumors circulated in previous years, there is no official record or confirmed report that the couple has had children. They continue to live as partners focused on their shared cinematic work.
Hong Sang Soo Wife: Why He Is Still Legally Married
Many people search for “hong sang soo wife” because his legal marriage remains central to this story. Hong Sang-soo married Ms. Jo in 1985. Reports say they met while both were studying in the United States. Although they have lived separately for over a decade, the marriage has never legally ended.
Hong tried to legally end the marriage in 2016. First, he filed for divorce mediation on November 9, 2016, at the Seoul Family Court. When those efforts failed, he filed a formal divorce lawsuit on December 20, 2016. This marked the start of a closely watched legal fight.
The court gave its decision on June 14, 2019. The Seoul Family Court, Family Section 2, dismissed Hong’s divorce petition. The court’s reasoning was linked to South Korea’s “fault-based” divorce principle. In simple terms, a spouse seen as mainly responsible for breaking the marriage cannot force a divorce upon the injured spouse.
In this case, Hong’s affair was considered the main reason for the marriage breakdown. Because Ms. Jo did not agree to the divorce, the court rejected his request. Ms. Jo famously stated in early reports that she would “wait for him until the end.”
As of March 2026, Ms. Jo remains Hong Sang-soo’s legal wife. This is why articles that call her his former wife are inaccurate. They are separated in practice, but not divorced in law.
Hong Sang Soo Daughter: What Is Known About His Family
Search interest in “hong sang soo daughter” has also remained strong. Hong Sang-soo and his wife have one daughter, who is their only child. When the affair first became public around 2016, reports noted she was a university student, making the family situation highly sensitive.
One major point of controversy involved education support. Reliable coverage in Korea reported that during the early stages of the separation, Hong ceased paying for his daughter’s overseas tuition. Reports claimed the tuition was instead supported by her maternal grandmother (Hong’s mother-in-law). This detail fueled significant public criticism directed at the director.
While there have been unverified tabloids rumors regarding the daughter’s personal life and marriage in recent years, the family has maintained strict privacy. Unlike the widely reported tuition controversy, specific details about the daughter’s wedding or Hong’s attendance have not been officially confirmed by the family, and the director remains estranged from his legal family.
Hong Sang-Soo Ex Wife? The Truth About His Legal Marital Status
Many readers search for “hong sang-soo ex wife,” but this phrase is not legally correct. Hong Sang-soo does not have an ex-wife as of March 2026. His wife, Ms. Jo, is still his lawful spouse because the court did not grant the divorce in 2019, and no subsequent legal dissolution has occurred.
It is easy to understand why people use the term “ex-wife.” Hong has been publicly involved with Kim Min-hee for years, and the couple has lived apart from his legal family since the relationship became known. In everyday conversation, some people confuse long-term separation with divorce, but the two are not the same.
A legal divorce ends a marriage under the law. A separation means the couple no longer lives together, but they are still married in legal terms. In Hong’s case, the second description is the accurate one.
Kim Min Hee Husband: Is She Married?
A common search phrase is “kim min hee husband,” but the correct answer is simple: Kim Min-hee does not have a legal husband. She is not married. Even though she has been in a long-term relationship with Hong Sang-soo since 2015, no legal marriage exists.
The reason is legally binding: Hong Sang-soo remains married to Ms. Jo. Because South Korean law prohibits bigamy, he cannot legally marry Kim Min-hee while his first marriage is intact.
Some people casually call Hong her husband because they have lived together for many years and function as a couple. However, for clear and responsible writing, it is better to describe Hong as her partner or lover, not her husband.
Kim Min Hee, Lee Soo Hyuk, and Her Past Public Relationships
Before Hong Sang-soo, Kim Min-hee had several public relationships that attracted media attention.
- Lee Soo-hyuk: Kim Min-hee dated model and actor Lee Soo-hyuk from July 2008 to November 2010. They were often called a “fashionista” couple due to their modeling backgrounds.
- Lee Jung-jae: She dated Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae from 2003 to 2006. They met while filming a mobile carrier commercial and were a high-profile couple for three years.
- Jo In-sung: Kim dated actor Jo In-sung in 2013. Their relationship was confirmed in January 2013 by Dispatch and ended in September 2014.
Career Connection Between Hong Sang Soo and Kim Min Hee
The relationship between Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee is deeply connected to their creative work. Since meeting on Right Now, Wrong Then, Kim has become the director’s “muse,” appearing in the vast majority of his films over the last decade.
Their collaboration includes acclaimed titles such as On the Beach at Night Alone (for which Kim won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival), The Woman Who Ran, and A Traveler’s Needs. Their films often draw attention because viewers frequently interpret the dialogue as reflections of their real-life situation and their views on love and criticism.
Latest 2026 Update on Hong Sang Soo and Kim Min Hee
As of March 2026, Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee are still together, marking over a decade of partnership. They continue to reside in South Korea but are rarely seen at domestic public events due to the lingering negative public sentiment regarding their affair.
However, they remain highly active in the international film circuit. They continue to produce films at a steady pace, often traveling together to European film festivals where they walk red carpets holding hands. Despite the lack of a legal marriage or children, their professional and personal bond remains visibly strong.
The legal status has not changed: Hong Sang-soo is still married to Ms. Jo, and Kim Min-hee remains unmarried. The stalemate regarding the divorce continues, defining their status as one of the most prominent, yet controversial, couples in Korean cinema history.
