Korean Actors Hit with "Racist" Remark at the Cannes Film Festival
"I don't know the rest of you," a reporter told Jung Ho Yeon, Jo In Sung, and the rest of the cast after addressing their white co-stars by name.
by Jam Nitura
Published on May 24, 2026
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is well under way. Among this year’s top entries is Korean director Na Hong Jin’s epic sci-fi film Hope. While the movie has been receiving positive reviews from critics, including a seven-minute standing ovation at its premiere, it’s currently gaining traction for a different reason.
Reporter Draws Backlash for Rude Remark Towards Cast of “Hope”
During a press conference for the film on Monday, a reporter, who did not state her name and outlet, opened by greeting Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. She followed this up with, “I don’t know the rest of you,” clearly directed at the rest of the panel, which includes Director Hong Jin, Korean actors Hwang Jung Min, Jo In Sung, Jung Ho Yeon, and Canadian actress Taylor Russell.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Ho Yeon and Taylor shared an “awkward glance” during the exchange, while In Sung and Jung Min looked on with straight faces.
The remark was quickly flagged by netizens as “rude” and “racist,” with many questioning the reporter’s lack of journalistic training.
“It was an admission of intellectual laziness,” wrote one commenter on Instagram. “Cultural journalism is not about orbiting the handful of faces already canonized by Hollywood. Its purpose is to remain curious about the world beyond that narrow spotlight.”
One netizen expressed their frustration over the lack of coverage by Western media, pointing out that only Asian outlets were spotlighting the incident.
See more netizen reactions below:
Adding to this, the unnamed reporter referred to Hong Jin as “the director” instead of calling him by name when asking her question. She inquired if Michael and Alicia, who are married in real life, were cast as a “package” to save on costs.
Though he looked briefly flustered, director Hong Jin explained that he had individual discussions with all the actors and convinced them separately to join the movie.
Hope is set in the fictional Hope Harbor, a rural town thrown into chaos when a mysterious creature wreaks havoc on its residents.
It’s described by the BBC as one of “the most expensive Korean films ever made.” They peg the epic project as a mix of “modern-day western to action thriller to horror film to science-fiction epic – all while retaining the full-throttle energy and sweaty cult-movie atmosphere of a 1970s exploitation flick.”
Jam’s way of exploration is by reading and writing. She hopes to always be lost in words and, occasionally, a good podcast.