South Korean 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.
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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.
However, a photo taken by Son became the centre 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.
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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.”