Moon Geun-young is a model and actress from South Korea. Modeling was her first job when she was ten years old. She’s come a long way since then, becoming known as ‘Nation’s Little Sister.’ She was born in Gwangju, South Korea, and had her on-screen debut in the documentary film ‘On the Road’ in 1999, but it was as a child actor in the drama ‘Autumn in My Heart’ that she gained true renown. Further TV parts followed, including the young empress Myeongseong in the historical serial ‘Empress Myeongsong.’ With the film ‘Lover’s Concerto,’ she immediately ascended the success ladder. After that, she had many more amazing opportunities in film and television, and she rose to national popularity with her role in the critically acclaimed and financially successful horror film ‘A Tale of Two Sisters.’ All of her early industry experience helped her establish herself as a strong actress later on, and it helped her win the Grand Prize at the 2008 SBS Drama Awards.
Childhood and Adolescence
Moon Geun-young was born on May 6, 1987, in Gwangju, South Korea. She has been a TV junkie since she was a child. She was the eldest of the two sisters in the family, and much to her family’s surprise, she was serious about pursuing a career in the entertainment industry at a time when most kids her age preferred to just play around.
She enjoyed listening to music, painting, and knitting as a child, and she was close to her grandmother, with whom she spent a lot of time. Moon’s grandma also accompanied her to a couple of her TV and film sets, which Moon claims gave her a firm sense of security whenever she was around.
Moon began modeling at the age of 12 and has since appeared in a number of advertisements and periodicals, gaining her early exposure. She began receiving more and more offers for roles in films and television around this period, and she made her first on-screen debut in 1999.
Career of Moon
Moon made her acting debut in the documentary drama film ‘On the Road,’ which provided her with the requisite experience in front of the camera. Moon’s work in the documentary encouraged the creators of ‘Autumn in My Heart’ to cast her as the female lead in the show’s childhood version. Moon won the ‘Best Young Actress Award’ at the 2000 KBS Drama Awards for her role in the drama series, which was a huge hit not just in South Korea but also globally.
Moon’s early success instilled in her a strong sense of self-assurance, allowing her to play a young empress in the historical epic show ‘Empress Myeongseong’ with ease, and in 2002, she played a major role in her debut film ‘Lover’s Concerto,’ in which she played the lead actress’s sister in a supporting role.
‘A Tale of Two Sisters,’ released in 2003, was the turning point in her career. Both critically and commercially, the picture was a huge hit. The film’s success gradually spread across international lines, and it gained critical acclaim in the United States as well. The film eventually become one of the most successful South Korean horror films of all time.
In the romantic comedy film ‘My Little Bride,’ she made her full-fledged major character debut. It ended up being the year’s second highest grossing South Korean film. Moon played a girl who was forced to marry a man she didn’t like for since her grandfather arranged the marriage. Moon did a fantastic job in her part, earning the title of ‘Nation’s Young Sister.’
In 2005, she starred in the film ‘Innocent Steps,’ in which she played a South Korean teenager living in China who eventually returns to her homeland. The film received positive reviews from critics and, to everyone’s surprise, became a box office success. Moon became one of the most bankable South Korean actors of the period as a result of these two consecutive successes.
In 2006, she completed a successful hat-trick with the film ‘Love me Not,’ a remake of a Japanese film. The film was a critical and economic success, and Moon was given the opportunity to host the Pusan International Film Festival’s award ceremony the following year.
After a long absence from television, she returned in 2008 to star in the biographical drama ‘Painter of the Wind,’ in which she played a blind lady who disguises herself as a man in order to learn how to paint. For her performance at the Baeksang Arts Honors, Grimae Award, and SBS Drama Awards, she received numerous acting awards. She received the Daesang (Grand Prize) Award at the SBS Drama Awards, the highest honor among the Korean drama awards, and she became the youngest actor in history to do so.
In 2010, she starred in ‘Cinderella’s Sister,’ a Korean adaptation of a well-known American fable. She appeared in the historical drama series ‘Goddess of Fire’ in 2013. During this time, she became busier on television, and film opportunities became fewer and fewer. In 2015, she made her long-awaited comeback to the big screen with the period drama film ‘The Throne,’ in which she portrayed the major role of Crown Prince Sado’s bride.
In 2015, she returned to television with the suspense series ‘The Village: Achiara’s Secret,’ which was another great hit for her. She made a cameo appearance in the South Korean version of the extremely successful American television series ‘Entourage’ in 2016. In October 2017, she will star in the mystery drama ‘Glass House,’ in which she will portray a researcher who takes refuge in a glass garden after suffering a heartbreak.
Personal Experiences of Moon
Despite a demanding job schedule, Moon Geun-young maintained excellent attendance throughout high school and college. She went on to Sungkyunkwan University after graduating from Gwangju Gukje High School. She majored in Korean language and literature in college.
Her dating life, unlike that of other South Korean celebrities, has not been kept a secret, and she openly dated Kim Bun for several months. The relationship, however, was short-lived, as the couple split up after only a few months of dating. They have maintained, though, that they are still good friends. Moon had compartment syndrome, which is characterized by intense muscle pain caused by a hectic schedule and a lack of sleep.
Estimated Net Worth
Moon Geun-young is one of the wealthiest movie actresses and one of the most well-known. Moon Geun-net young’s worth is estimated to be $6 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.