Actress Lee Min-jung faces backlash over luxury bag photo in Venetian church
Lee Min-jung / Xportsnews
Actress Lee Min-jung is facing growing criticism both domestically and internationally after a photo taken inside a church in Venice sparked controversy among online communities.
Lee recently visited Venice to support her husband, actor Lee Byung-hun, whose film “No Other Choice” was competing in the main category at the Venice International Film Festival. She was seen exploring the city and attending the festival alongside actress Son Ye-jin, the film’s lead actress, drawing significant attention from Korean and global fans alike.
Lee Min-jung, left, and Son Ye-jin / Captured from Lee's social media
However, a photo taken by Son Ye-jin became the center of controversy. In the image, Lee poses in front of a church altar while holding a luxury handbag, with a crucifix in the background. When the photo surfaced online, international fans were the first to raise concerns.
Critics argued that taking fashion-style photos in a sacred religious space was inappropriate. Some overseas commenters said, “It could be shocking and offensive to Catholic believers,” and “Using a holy place as a backdrop to highlight a handbag is disrespectful.”
Lee Min-jung / Captured from Lee's social media
Domestic reactions mirrored international sentiments. Korean online communities and social media platforms, including Lee’s personal account, were filled with criticism. “This is embarrassing as a Korean,” “The altar is not a place anyone can freely access; she was careless,” and “Such actions can be seen as disrespecting religious spaces abroad," they wrote. Others added that even if Lee was unaware of the religious context, she “should have exercised more caution.”
Still, some defended Lee, suggesting it may have been “an unintentional mistake since she isn’t a Catholic” and saying, “The photo itself is beautiful, but the choice of location was problematic.”
The post has sparked controversy as the debate spreads from international fans to Korean audiences. With Lee known for actively engaging with her fans, attention now turns to how she will address the issue and what message she will deliver.
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.