[Sports Chosun Reporter Lee Yuna] Actress Lee Min-jung, who accompanied her husband Lee Byung-hun to Venice to support him, has come under fire from overseas fans.
Recently, Lee Min-jung traveled to the ‘Venice Film Festival’ with her husband, who is the lead actor in the competition entry ‘Inevitably.’ During the festival, she was seen enjoying sightseeing in Venice with the film’s female lead, Son Ye-jin.
The controversy arose from a photo taken by Son Ye-jin that received criticism from international fans.
The contentious photo shows Lee Min-jung posing with a bag in front of a crucifix in a cathedral. Some overseas fans commented, “While I admire you, posing with a purse in front of Jesus Christ is disrespectful.” Other fans mentioned, “This photo is shocking and hurtful to Catholic believers,” “I agree. This is very disrespectful. It’s sad that such a thing happened. Kindly take playful photos outside the church,” “Posing in a sacred place with a bag for indirect publicity seems inappropriate,” and “The crucifix has been reduced to a backdrop for bag promotion. I assume she didn’t realize it since she is not a believer.”
Conversely, some fans defended her by stating, “It wouldn’t have been allowed if photos weren’t permitted,” and “It appears to have been taken in a permissible location.”
Meanwhile, the film ‘Inevitably,’ featuring director Park Chan-wook and actors Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, has been selected not only as a contender at the Venice Film Festival but also as South Korea’s representative entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 American Academy Awards.