Kim Min-hee's transformation: Gray hair and the weight of motherhood

Actress Kim Min-hee made her first official public appearance alongside director Hong Sang-soo since the birth of her son. While the pair previously drew attention through affectionate gazes and natural physical intimacy, they presented a much calmer, more composed atmosphere this time.

The change is not merely physical. Instead of her former glamorous actress persona, the image of a woman balancing childcare with film production has taken center stage. After enduring years of controversy and public scrutiny, their relationship seems to have entered a stage that is difficult to define with the word "lovers" alone.

At the 79th Locarno International Film Festival held in Switzerland on the 14th (local time), an official event was held for director Hong Sang-soo's new film, "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes." Director Hong and Kim, who participated as the lead actress and production manager, were both in attendance.

This marks the first time the two have attended an official event together since the birth of their son.

In the past, whenever the two appeared together at international film festivals, they drew attention with their characteristic intimacy. Scenes of Kim smiling brightly at Hong, or the two sharing natural physical affection, were often consumed as symbolic snapshots of their relationship.

However, the atmosphere this time was different.

Kim approached the event with a calmer demeanor, and her relationship with Hong appeared composed—more like colleagues introducing a work together than a couple engaging in special gestures. While one cannot conclude the depth of their emotions based solely on a few photos or brief facial expressions, it is notable that a noticeably different energy can be sensed compared to the past.

Most importantly, Kim's own words support this shift.

Kim stated that this film was her first shoot in approximately two years since giving birth, noting, "My condition was very different from before." She revealed, "Because the baby was also at the filming set, I had to nurse and prepare baby food.""

While she previously worked by throwing her entire being into her roles, she now approaches filming only after completing her responsibilities to her child.

Regarding this change, Kim noted that she actually felt "healthier." She explained that after breaking free from the past obsession of immersing herself solely in film and accepting the reality of caring for her child, her approach to work felt more natural.

At this point, Kim's transformation cannot be viewed merely as a "post-childbirth change in appearance."

The gray hair and makeup-free face that have recently been noticeable on Kim also drew attention, contrasting with her former glamorous image. For a former model who built a unique fashion sense and mysterious aura, her gray hair has been interpreted by some as a symbol of her life's shift.

However, perhaps the greater change lies not in her hair, but in the shifting center of her life.

If the past Kim Min-hee was an actress who maximized her presence in front of the camera, the current Kim is also a mother who handles nursing and prepares baby food after filming ends. The boundary between film and reality has become much more concrete and everyday.

Such a change creates a subtle difference in how one views her relationship with director Hong Sang-soo.

The two first connected through "Right Now, Is It Correct? and Was It Wrong?" in 2015, and publicly revealed they were in a relationship at a press conference for "The Beach at Night Alone" in 2017. At that time, their relationship stood at the center of intense controversy because Hong was still legally married.

Despite this, the two have continued their professional lives together, traveling primarily to international film festivals over the following years. And now, there is a son between them.

Therefore, the scene at Locarno is less about the image of the same two lovers as in the past, and more about the present reality of two people who have become parents after passing through long years of controversy.

While Kim's "honey-like gaze" once visually demonstrated her feelings of love, this time, the realistic language of balancing childcare and filming left a greater impression. Rather than the moment love ignites, the time of daily life that follows has taken center stage.

However, it is premature to conclude that their relationship has cooled. Rather, it is more reasonable to see it as the way their relationship is outwardly expressed has changed as the conditions of their lives themselves have evolved.

Ultimately, what is most striking at Locarno is not the fact that Kim has gray hair, but that she is no longer living her life in the same way.

Kim Min-hee continues to play the character Sang-hee in Hong's films. However, off-camera, she is a mother who manages nursing and baby food, returning to her role as an actress only after those duties are met.

The era of the glamorous "star Kim Min-hee" has not vanished; rather, a much more concrete reality has been layered over it. The composed face and calm eyes captured at Locarno may be the most honest expression of that change.

"Nowhere to Lay My Eyes" tells the story of Sang-hee, who is raised by her grandparents following parental conflict, and travels to Jeju Island with her younger brother to meet her mother. The film was invited to the International Competition at the 79th Locarno International Film Festival. Hong Sang-soo served as producer, screenwriter, director, cinematographer, sound engineer, editor, and composer, while Kim Min-hee served as lead actress and production manager.