Actress Lee Min Jung has spoken up after facing backlash over a photo she took while sightseeing in Venice.
On September 4, Lee Min Jung shared a statement to clarify the situation, saying,
“This place is not a church, but a hall and restaurant inside a hotel that preserved the old walls of a church from hundreds of years ago. I am a Christian, though not Catholic, but if standing on the altar and taking a photo made anyone uncomfortable, I am sorry!!! I will make sure to be more careful in the future!!!!”
The controversy began after Lee Min Jung uploaded photos on September 1 with the caption, “photo by Son Ye Jin in Venice.”
The actress was in Venice to accompany her husband, Lee Byung Hun, who attended the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. He was there for the screening of Out of Necessity, directed by Park Chan Wook and starring Lee Byung Hun and Son Ye Jin. During her free time, Lee Min Jung went sightseeing with Son Ye Jin and posed with a luxury handbag in front of a crucifix.
However, some international netizens criticized the photo, leaving comments such as, “There’s a crucifix behind her and she’s posing with a purse — that’s disrespectful,” “She’s standing on a church altar like a Fendi model?” and “This is blasphemy.”
Meanwhile, Out of Necessity had its world premiere on August 29 at Sala Grande, the main theater of the Venice International Film Festival. Director Park Chan Wook, along with stars Lee Byung Hun, Son Ye Jin, Park Hee Soon, Lee Sung Min, and Yum Hye Ran, attended the red carpet event. The 1,032-seat theater was completely filled, and the film received a 9-minute standing ovation.
Out of Necessity is set to be released on September 24.
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