Moon Geun-young

Moon Geun-young (Korean: 문근영; Hanja: 文瑾瑩; born May 6, 1987) is a South Korean actress. Affectionately called the "Nation's Little Sister," Moon began modeling at the age of 10, then made her acting debut in 1999 as a child actress. She first rose to stardom through her role as the young Eun-suh in the hugely popular television drama series Autumn in My Heart (2000), followed by a well-received turn in Kim Jee-woon's critically acclaimed horror film A Tale of Two Sisters (2003). Moon solidified her star status by headlining the box-office hits My Little Bride (2004) and Innocent Steps (2005). At age 21, she became the youngest recipient of a Grand Prize ("Daesang") which she won at SBS Drama Awards for the television series Painter of the Wind (2008).[3]

Moon Geun Young
Moon Geun-young in 2010
Born (1987-05-06) May 6, 1987
Gwangju, South Korea[1]
Alma materSungkyunkwan University[2]
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
AgentNamoo Actors (2004-2020)
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationMun Geun-yeong
McCune–ReischauerMun Kŭnyŏng

Career

Early career

Before her acting debut on a television drama series, Moon filmed several commercials and modeled for various magazines. She started modeling at the age of 12, and first appeared onscreen on the 1999 documentary drama On the Road directed by Choi Jae-eun.[4] Moon's rise to fame came in 2000 when she starred as the younger counterpart of Song Hye-kyo's character in the pan-Asia hit drama Autumn in My Heart.[5] She won the Best Young Actress award at the 2000 KBS Drama Awards for her role, together with her co-star Choi Woo-hyuk.[6]

Following her early success, she returned to the screen in 2001 as the young Empress Myeongseong (Lee Mi-yeon played the adult version) in the historical drama Empress Myeongseong.[5] In 2002, Moon made her film debut in Lovers' Concerto, playing a supporting role as Cha Tae-hyun's younger sister.[7]

Breakthrough

Moon was launched as a major star with her role in Kim Jee-woon's critically acclaimed horror film A Tale of Two Sisters (2003).[8] A Tale of Two Sisters ranks among the highest-grossing Korean horror films and was the first to be screened in American theaters.[9]

In 2004, Moon headlined the romantic comedy film My Little Bride. It was the second most popular Korean film of the year, behind the blockbuster hit Taegukgi. In the film, Moon plays an ordinary high school girl who has to marry an older man (played by Kim Rae-won) due to a pact their grandfathers made during the Korean War.[10][11] Following the release of My Little Bride, the press gave Moon the title "Nation's Little Sister".[12][13]

In 2005, Moon starred in Innocent Steps where she played the role of an ethnic Korean living in China, who finds herself to be a complete fish out of water after moving to South Korea.[14] Innocent Steps was a hit, and its success along with My Little Bride established Moon as a genuine box office draw.[15] That year, Moon ranked first among actresses in the Korean film industry as the most bankable star.[16] Moon and actor Cho Seung-woo also received the 2005 Good Model award from the Korea Advertisers Association; 200 members voted for the winners based on how much they contributed to boosting the sales of products and enhancing the image of advertisers.[17]

In 2006, Moon starred in Love Me Not, a Korean big-screen remake of popular Japanese TV drama Ai nante iranee yo, natsu ("I Don't Need Love, Summer"), where she played a cold-hearted blind heiress.[18] Later that year, Moon and veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki hosted the 2006 Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), the biggest international film festival in South Korea.[19]

Acting acclaim

In 2008, Moon returned to television in the period epic Painter of the Wind, where she played the lead role of Shin Yun-bok, a painter who disguises herself as a man and becomes mentored by the master Kim Hong-do (played by Park Shin-yang).[20] Shin was a real-life historical figure, a painter who lived during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and was known for his realistic and delicate depictions of daily life.[21] Moon received acting acclaim for her performance, including Best Actress at the 2008 Grimae Awards (presented by the Korean Broadcasting Directors Association), Best TV Actress at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards, and the Daesang ("Grand Prize") at the 2008 SBS Drama Awards, making her the youngest recipient of a Daesang in the drama awards history of all three networks.[22]

In 2010, Moon starred in Cinderella's Sister, a modern fairy tale retelling of the contentious relationship between two stepsisters (opposite Seo Woo).[23][24] Later in the year, she starred in the romantic comedy Mary Stayed Out All Night alongside Jang Keun-suk.[25][26] 2010 also marked the year she made her theater debut, in the Korean staging of Patrick Marber's play Closer.[27] She caused a stir as the strip dancing, promiscuous Alice, opposite Um Ki-joon's Dan.[28][29]

Moon returned to TV, playing a struggling young designer in Cheongdam-dong Alice (2012).[30] She then starred in Goddess of Fire (2013), playing Yoo Jung, a character based on Baek Pa-sun, the first female potter and porcelain artist of the Joseon Dynasty.[31] This is her second historical drama (or sageuk), five years after Painter of the Wind.[32]

Moon made her long-awaited return to the big screen in Lee Joon-ik's period film The Throne, in which she played Lady Hyegyeong, the wife of Crown Prince Sado.[33][34] This is followed by the mystery thriller series The Village: Achiara's Secret.[35]

In 2016, Moon starred in her second theater play, Romeo and Juliet alongside Park Jung-min.[36] She was also cast in the mystery film Glass Garden, which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2017.[37][38]

In 2019, Moon was confirmed to make her small-screen comeback in the tvN's crime drama Catch the Ghost.[39]

Personal life

Moon graduated from Gwangju Gukje High School in February 2006. In March 2006, she entered Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul.[40] Moon was known for being a diligent student and has a solid attendance record, a rarity among Korean celebrities in college.[40] She studied Korean Language and Literature.[41][42]

Their agencies confirmed that Moon dated her Goddess of Fire co-star Kim Bum for seven months, from October 2013 to April 2014.[43][44] Not long after agencies of both actors confirmed the news stating: "They did break up not too long ago but have decided to remain good friends and supportive colleagues".[45][46]

Moon was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, and received emergency treatments to treat her arm muscle pain.[47]

Charity

Morning Reading

Moon donated close to ₩100 million to Morning Reading, a non-profit organization that promotes reading books.[48] She gave ₩4.3 million in 2005, ₩4 million in 2006 and ₩70 million in 2007. Moon made the contributions secretly through her mother, Ryu Seon-young, but her good deeds became known when Morning Reading revealed its 2007 account information online.

Haenam Children's Center

Moon donated about ₩300 million in 2006 to a learning center for poor children in Haenam County, South Jeolla Province, near her hometown of Gwangju.[49] Bae Yo-seop opened an after-school study room for children from poor or single-parent families to study there for free in 2002. The program was facing closure in October 2006 when the landlord told Bae that the house would be sold. A new building, equipped with library, computer room, bathhouse and dining room was built on the land, and the ₩200 million expense was also covered by Moon. Moon also paid an unannounced visit to their classrooms.

Community Chest of Korea

Moon donated more than ₩850 million over the last ten years to the Community Chest of Korea, a nationwide network of 16 nonprofit fundraising organizations, becoming the biggest individual donor. Moon had wanted to remain an anonymous donor, but the organization was pressured by a media frenzy to identify her.[50] Her donations were used to build children's libraries and subsidize hospital costs for children suffering from leukemia or cancer. Apart from the Community Chest of Korea, Moon has also given several hundred millions of won to scholarship foundations.[51]

Because of her charitable activities, particularly for the Community Chest of Korea, Moon was selected among 100 people that "lit up the world" in 2008 in a survey conducted by the Korea Green Foundation.[52]

Hangeul Library in Sydney

Moon again showed her generosity by building a Korean library for young Korean expatriates in Australia. Working with the Lindfield Korean School in Sydney, the actress donated ₩100 million towards construction of a permanent Korean library (called the Hangeul Library) and also donated 10,000 books to over 40 Korean schools scattered across the city. Moon has been donating books with her own money since 2006, when she saw during a visit to her relatives in Australia how young Korean students there did not have enough books or places to learn Korean.[53]

Donated Haenam Children's Center to NGO Group

In April 2009, Moon donated the Haenam Children's Center to be used as a study room for poor students to the NGO group Good People, an international charity group of UN UCOSCO special consultative status aiming to improve self-sustainability and eradicate extreme poverty through restoration of self-esteem using the principles of human dignity and equality at a global level.[54][55]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1999 On The Way (documentary)
2002 Lovers' ConcertoLee Ji-yoon
2003 A Tale of Two SistersBae Su-yeon
2004 My Little BrideSeo Bo-eun
2005 Innocent StepsJang Chae-rin
2006 Love Me NotRyu Min
2015 The ThroneLady Hyegyeong
2017 Glass Garden Jae-yoon

Television series

Year Title Role Network
1999 Burnt Rice Teacher and Seven PotatoesHan Mi-sooKBS2
2000 Autumn in My Heartyoung Yoon/Choi Eun-suh
Medical Centerdying young singer
(guest appearance, episode 15)
SBS
2001 Empress MyeongseongMin Ja-yeong
(young Empress Myeongseong)
KBS2
Life is Beautifulyoung Yoo Hee-jung
2003 Wife[56]Han Min-juKBS2
2008 Painter of the WindShin Yun-bokSBS
2010 Cinderella's SisterGo Eun-jo/Song Eun-joKBS2
Mary Stayed Out All NightWi Mae-ri
2012 Cheongdam-dong AliceHan Se-kyungSBS
2013 Goddess of FireYoo JungMBC
2015 The Village: Achiara's SecretHan So-yoonSBS
2016 Entourage[57]CameotvN
2019Catch the GhostYoo Ryeong

Variety show

Year Title Role Network Notes
2019 Those Who Cross the Line – Season 2[58]<Cast memberMBC

Theater

Year Title Role
2010 CloserAlice
2016 Romeo and JulietJuliet

Discography

Year Title Album
2004"I Don't Know About Love Yet"My Little Bride OST
2005야래향Innocent Steps OST
그댄 몰라요
2010" Sound of the Wind"Love Tree Project

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2000KBS Drama AwardsBest Young ActressAutumn in My HeartWon [59]
200324th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest New ActressA Tale of Two SistersNominated
2004 41st Grand Bell Awards My Little BrideWon [60]
Popularity AwardWon [61]
12th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest New ActressWon [62]
3rd Korean Film AwardsNominated
25th Blue Dragon Film AwardsPopular Star Award Won [63]
6th Mnet Asian Music AwardsBest OST"I Don't Know About Love Yet"
(My Little Bride)
Nominated
20055th Korea World Youth Film FestivalFavorite ActressN/AWon [64]
42nd Grand Bell AwardsBest ActressInnocent StepsNominated
Popularity AwardWon [65]
200629th Golden Cinematography AwardsBest ActressWon [66]
6th Korea World Youth Film FestivalFavorite ActressN/AWon [67]
200744th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActressLove Me NotNominated
7th Korea World Youth Film FestivalFavorite ActressN/AWon [68]
200821st Grimae AwardsBest ActressPainter of the WindWon [69]
SBS Drama AwardsGrand Prize (Daesang)Won [22]
Top Excellence Award, ActressNominated
Best Couple Award with Moon Chae-wonWon
Top 10 StarsWon
20094th Seoul International Drama AwardsBest ActressNominated
Popularity AwardWon [70]
45th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actress (TV)Won [71]
2010 6th Golden Ticket AwardsBest Actress in a PlayCloserWon [72]
Yahoo! Asia Buzz AwardsFemale Buzz Star AwardMary Stayed Out All NightWon [73]
3rd Korea Drama AwardsBest ActressCinderella's SisterNominated
KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Cinderella's Sister, Mary Stayed Out All Night Won [74]
Popularity Award Won [74]
Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama Cinderella's Sister Nominated [74]
Best Couple Award with Jang Keun-suk Mary Stayed Out All Night Won [74]
20116th Seoul International Drama AwardsOutstanding Korean ActressWon [75]
47th Baeksang Arts AwardsMost Popular Actress (TV)Cinderella's SisterWon [76]
2013SBS Drama AwardsTop Excellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesCheongdam-dong AliceNominated
MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama Goddess of Fire Nominated
2015SBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesThe Village: Achiara's SecretWon [77]
Top 10 StarsWon
2018 2nd Malaysia Golden Global Awards Best Actress Glass Garden Nominated

References

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  2. "국민의 여동생 문근영, 성균관대서 국문학도 꿈 키운다". Nocutnews (in Korean). October 13, 2005.
  3. Kang Myoung-seok (April 30, 2010). "10LINE: Actress Moon Geun-young". 10Asia. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
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  5. "가을동화 은서가 왕비 됐어요". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). May 7, 2001. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014.
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