Question 1

True or false: Hong Sang-soo's films frequently include scenes with characters drinking soju and discussing philosophy.

Accepted Answer

True. Soju-drinking conversations are a signature motif, blending everyday life with existential musings.

Question 2

True or false: Hong Sang-soo first gained international fame with a film about zombies.

Accepted Answer

False. He is known for intimate dramas about relationships, drinking, and art, never horror or zombies.

Question 3

True or false: Hong Sang-soo has won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Accepted Answer

True. He won the Golden Bear in 2022 for 'The Novelist's Film' and previously won the Silver Bear for 'Right Now, Wrong Then'.

Question 4

True or false: Hong Sang-soo regularly uses elaborate CGI and visual effects in his films.

Accepted Answer

False. His style is minimalist, with long takes and natural lighting; he avoids CGI almost entirely.

Question 5

True or false: Hong Sang-soo typically shoots his films in under two weeks.

Accepted Answer

True. He often completes a feature in 10–15 days due to small crews, simple locations, and pre-written dialogue.

Question 6

True or false: Hong Sang-soo's films are almost entirely improvised by the actors.

Accepted Answer

False. Despite their naturalistic feel, Hong writes every line meticulously, often on the day of shooting, but not improvised.

Question 7

True or false: Hong Sang-soo often casts the same actress, Kim Min-hee, in his films, and they are partners in real life.

Accepted Answer

True. Kim Min-hee has starred in nearly all his films since 2015, and they have a public romantic relationship.

Question 8

True or false: Hong Sang-soo has directed multiple films featuring the same actor in different roles within a single movie.

Accepted Answer

True. Actually, true: In 'In Water' (2023), he used the same actor (Shin Seok-ho) in two distinct roles, a rare experiment.

Hong Sang-soo Trivia Questions