"Korean Actors? I Don't Know" at Cannes Film Festival 'Hope' Press Conference, Foreign Reporter's Rude Question Sparks Controversy [Cannes★Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

A controversy has erupted after a foreign reporter asked a rude question during the official press conference for director Na Hong-jin's film 'Hope' held the day after its official screening at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Earlier, on the 18th (local time), the official press conference for 'Hope' was held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. Director Na Hong-jin and actors Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell attended the 'Hope' press conference that day.

As various questions poured in reflecting the interest in the film, a female foreign reporter asked a question. While it is mandatory at official film festival press conferences to disclose one's name and affiliation, this reporter did not even reveal her name. Instead, she addressed Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander by name, saying, "Hello Michael, hello Alicia," before adding, "I don't know the others." She openly stated this while attending a Korean film press conference without knowing the names of the actors present.

At this greeting, the actors and hosts seated in front all reacted with awkward laughter. The reporter then rudely asked Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, who are actually a married couple, "Why did you cast both of them? Could you have cast both for the fee of one actor? Is it a couple package?"

The reporter did not even mention director Na Hong-jin's name. When Director Na asked, "I... I am the one?" he replied, "(It's not a) package. We worked hard to secure each one individually."

With the video now public, controversy has arisen among Korean audiences. Opinions are pouring in, labeling the incident as racial discrimination or an exposure of ignorance at a Korean film press conference.

Meanwhile, the Cannes International Film Festival will announce the winners among this year's competition entries at the closing ceremony on the 23rd. Attention is focused on whether director Na Hong-jin's new sci-fi film 'Hope' will be honored with an award at the closing ceremony of this year's Cannes International Film Festival.

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*This content was translated by AI.