Moon Geun Young
Encyclopedia
Moon Geun-young is a vivacious and multi-talented South Korean award-winning actress, commercial film (CF) star, and model. Affectionately called "Korean nation's little sister," Moon started modeling at the age of 12 and appeared in the documentary film On the Way (1999) the following year. She came into the spotlight through her role as the young Eun-suh in the hugely popular television drama series Autumn Tale
Autumn Fairy Tale
Autumn in My Heart also known as Autumn Fairy Tale and Autumn Tale, is the first installment of the four part Endless Love drama series directed by Yoon Seok-Ho, produced by South Korean TV Network KBS...

(2000). Her major breakthrough as a star was the horror film A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film written and directed by Kim Ji-woon...

(2003) directed by Kim Ji-woon. Later, she starred in such hit films as My Little Bride
My Little Bride
My Little Bride is a Korean language romantic comedy film about an arranged marriage between a new teacher and a student. It was directed by Kim Ho Jun and was released in 2004. It was the second most popular Korean movie of 2004 in Korea, behind the blockbuster hit Taegukgi, with 3,149,500...

in 2004 and Innocent Steps
Innocent Steps
Innocent Steps is a 2005 South Korean film written and directed by Park Young-hoon...

in 2005. Moon Geun Young's recent drama is Mary Stayed Out All Night
Mary Stayed Out All Night
Mary Stayed Out All Night is a South Korean Romance-Comedy television series, which originally aired from November 8 to December 28, 2010 on the Korean network KBS2, and starred Moon Geun Young, Jang Geun Suk, Kim Jae Wook and Kim Hyo Jin...

 with Jang Geun Suk .

Family

  • Father: Moon Hong Geun
  • Mother: Ryu Seon Young
  • Sister: Moon Ji Young

Moon has been loved as a proper and pure “younger sister of the people” ever since she debuted as a child actress in the 2000 TV drama Autumn in My Heart. Unlike other teenage celebrities who have already physically matured, she had the look of a young girl, she studied hard and acted well. People called her flawless and unspoiled.
Moon read the eulogy to fellow actress, Lee Eun-joo
Lee Eun-ju
Lee Eun-ju was a South Korean actress. She died by suicide at the age of 24.-Life and career:Born in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, Lee moved to Seoul after graduating high school to study acting. She was first noticed in the mid-1990s as a model for school uniforms, and after a number of...

, on February 22, 2005. Moon was in the same management agency as Lee.

In May 2005, Moon appeared onstage at the Cannes International Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...

 in France at the Palais de Festival. Moon's film Innocent Steps was chosen to be shown at the 58th Cannes International Film Festival.

Moon ranked first on the star power list in 2005 among actresses in Chungmuro
Chungmuro Station
Chungmuro Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 3 and Line 4. Both the Line 3 and 4 platforms are located in Chungmuro-4-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul....

, the Korean film industry, who can mobilize the greatest number of fans, and sell tickets on the sole basis of the actor's name alone.

The Korea Advertisers Association voted Moon the best entertainer to sell products by advertisers. The Korea Advertisers Association of 200 members awarded Moon and actor Jo Seung-woo
Jo Seung-woo
Jo Seung-woo is a South Korean actor and musical star best known for his roles in Marathon and Tazza: The High Rollers.- Career :...

 as the winners of the 2005 Good Model Award. The winners were decided by votes based on how much they contributed to boosting the sales of products and enhancing the image of advertisers.

Moon graduated from Gwangju Gukje High School in February 2006. In March 2006, she entered Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University is a private university in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea. The university has two campuses: the Humanities and Social Sciences campus in Myeongnyun Dong, Jongno-gu in central Seoul, and the Natural Sciences Campus in Cheoncheon Dong, Jangan Gu, Suwon...

 in Seoul. Moon has been devoted to her studies and has had a solid attendance record ever since she entered Sungkyunkwan University in 2006.

Moon and veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki hosted the 2006 Pusan International Film Festival
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...

 (PIFF), the biggest international film festival in South Korea.

In 2008, she took a one-year leave from school to focus on the drama The Painter of the Wind. Prior to and after signing her contract for The Painter of the Wind, Moon gave much thought about whether to apply for a leave of absence. She concluded that it would be virtually impossible to perform at the best of her ability to both her studies and drama at the same time. Moon has shown strong determination to fulfill her responsibilities as a student, and this application for a leave of absence is also seen as her decision to keep her promise of valuing her education.

She is currently a junior majoring in Korean Literature at Sungkyunkwan University.

Early career

Before her debut in a television drama series, Moon filmed several commercials and modeled for various magazines. She started modeling at the age of 12, and appeared in the documentary drama On the Road by film director Choi Jae Eun in 1999. In 2000, Moon became the biggest teen star in the country at the age of 13 playing a school girl in a sentimental TV drama called Autumn Tale. It was a hit in Korea and won over viewers in other parts of Asia. She won the best young actress award at the 2000 KBS Drama Awards for her role in Autumn in My Heart together with Choi Woo Hyuk
Choi Woo Hyuk
Choi Woo Hyuk is a South Korean actor under Bel Actors Entertainment and was popularly known as the young "Yoon Junseo" in 'hit' Korean drama Endless Love 1:Autumn in my heart. He debuted as an actor on 1993.- Biography :...

.

Following her early success, she returned to the screen in 2001 as the young Empress Myung-sung (later played by Lee Mi-yeon) in the popular historical (also known as "sa-geuk" in Korean) television drama series The Last Empress. During that year, she also made a cameo appearance in the SBS medical television series, Medical Center.

Moon's debut film appearance was in a supporting role as Cha Tae Hyun
Cha Tae-hyun
Cha Tae-Hyun is a South Korean movie star, television actor, and singer. He started his acting career in a 1995 KBS television drama. He appeared in his first movie, Hallelujah, in 1997, also making his debut as a singer in 2001...

's younger sister, Lee Ji-yoon, in Lovers' Concerto
Lovers' Concerto (film)
Lovers' Concerto is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Lee Han. It is a romantic melodrama dealing with friendship, jealousy and the ties that bind.-Plot synopsis:...

(2002).

Stardom

In 2003 she was launched as a major star with her role in Kim Ji Woon
Kim Ji-Woon
Kim Ji-woon is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Kim Ji-woon has a history of successfully tackling a wide range of film genres, garnering a cult following among Asian films fans all over the world.-Career:...

's successful horror film A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film written and directed by Kim Ji-woon...

(2003). Moon plays the role of the younger sister Su-yeon in the film. It is both the highest-grossing Korean horror film and the first to be screened in American theaters.

In 2004, Moon played the role of Suh Bo-eun in the popular film My Little Bride
My Little Bride
My Little Bride is a Korean language romantic comedy film about an arranged marriage between a new teacher and a student. It was directed by Kim Ho Jun and was released in 2004. It was the second most popular Korean movie of 2004 in Korea, behind the blockbuster hit Taegukgi, with 3,149,500...

. It was the second most popular Korean film in 2004, behind the blockbuster hit Taegukgi. In the film, Suh Bo-eun is an ordinary high school girl who worries about grades and has a crush on her school's baseball team ace. One day, Bo-eun's grandfather orders her to marry Sang-min (Kim Rae-won) because of a pact he made with Sang-min's grandfather during the Korean War. Despite the grandchildren's opposition, they are forced to marry because of Bo-eun's grandfather's strong influence. Bo-eun's undercover married life begins: She pretends that she doesn't have a husband and starts dating Jung-woo. Boeun believes that she can manage both men and live a double life. Everything goes smoothly until Sang-min visits Bo-eun's school as a student teacher.

Following the release of My Little Bride (2004), she became known as "the nation's younger sister" (Gukmin yeo-dong-saeng") for her cute younger sister-like image, in addition to her charitable deeds and acting. Moon's subsequent appearances have given her a reputation as being one of Korea's few genuine box office draws.

In 2005, Moon starred in her subsequent film Innocent Steps where she plays the role of Jang Chae-ryn, an ethnic Korean living in China, who finds herself to be a complete fish out of water after being transplanted abroad to South Korea. When her sister bows out of a dummy marriage to a champion dance instructor, Chae-ryn decides to travel to Seoul herself and impersonate her sister. Once in South Korea, she meets Na Young-sae (Park Gun-hyung), who has agreed to the sham marriage for the sole purpose of locating a new dance partner. But when Chae-ryn's secret and her lack of dancing experience is revealed, Young-Sae wants to send his new bride back. Eventually, however, he has second thoughts and decides that his only hope is to train this wide-eyed novice himself. Of course, the practices start off as purely professional, but as Chae-ryn begins to dedicate herself to the art of dancing, a connection between the newlyweds begin to take shape. Chae-ryn's youthful exuberance and folksy way of speaking eventually charms Young-sae's hardened heart.

In 2006, Moon starred in the movie Love Me Not, a Korean big-screen remake of popular Japanese TV drama Ai nante iranee yo, natsu, where she plays the character of Ryu Min. Min is a blind heiress, cold-hearted like Julian, who slowly opens herself to Julian, and he, too, falls for Min. However, Julian has to pay his creditor for his millions of debt and Min's illness that took her eyesight as a child relapsed, threatening her life.

In September 2008, Moon made her return to the television screen with the epic drama The Painter of the Wind, in which she played the lead role of Shin Yoon-bok, a painter who disguises herself as a man. Shin Yoon-bok is a painter who lived during the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...

 (1392-1910) and was known for his realistic and delicate depictions of daily life.

In Year 2010, Moon Geun Young played the role of Eun Jo on Cinderella's Sister that gained many recognitions to her. In the last quarter of 2010, Moon Geun Young & Actor Jang Geun Suk starred in a drama Mary Stayed Out All Night
Mary Stayed Out All Night
Mary Stayed Out All Night is a South Korean Romance-Comedy television series, which originally aired from November 8 to December 28, 2010 on the Korean network KBS2, and starred Moon Geun Young, Jang Geun Suk, Kim Jae Wook and Kim Hyo Jin...

 which become popular in Asia . Moon played the role of Wi Mae-Ri who fall in love with a rockstar Kang Mu Gyul played by Jang Geun Suk

Acting acclaim

In December 2008, Moon won the Best Actress Award for her role as Shin Yoon-bok at the 2008 Grime Awards presented by the Korean Television Directors of Photography Association.

At the end of the year drama awards, Moon won the Daesang (Grand Prize) award, the Best Couple Award with Moon Chae Won, and the Top 10 Star Award at the 2008 SBS Drama Awards held on December 31, 2008-January 1, 2009.

In February 2009, Moon won the Best Female Actress Award in a TV Series at the 44th Baeksang Awards. She was also very close to winning the popularity award by a very small margin (0.1%) to Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean electropop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The nine members are: Taeyeon , Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun...

's Yoona
Im Yoona
Im Yoona commonly stylized as YoonA , is a South Korean idol singer, Dancer, Actress, and Promotional model. She is a member of the Korean girl group, Girls' Generation. She made her debut as an actress in the 2007 Korean drama, 9 Ends, 2 Outs. She is often considered to be the "face" of the...

.

Morning Reading

Moon donated close to 100 million to Morning Reading, a non-profit organization that promotes reading books. She gave 4.3 million won in 2005, 4 million won in 2006 and 70 million won 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 won in 2006 to a learning center for poor children in Haenam, South Cholla Province, near her hometown of Gwangju. 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. The 200 million-won 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 won over the last six years to the Community Chest of Korea, a nationwide network of 16 nonprofit fundraising organizations, becoming the biggest individual donor. She had wanted to remain anonymous.

Moon was also selected among 100 people that "lit up the world" in 2008 in a survey conducted by the Korea Green Foundation.

Han Geul Library in Sydney

Moon again showed her generosity by building a Korean library for young Korean expatriates in Australia. The actress is going to support the library construction by helping out with the cost (100 million won), and donating books. 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. She worked with the Linfield Korean School in Sydney to build a permanent Korean library called the Han Geul library.

Donated Haenam Children's Center to NGO Group

In April 2009, Moon donated the Haenam Children's Center used as a study room for poor students to an 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.

Filmography

Film/Movies
Year Film Role Notes
1999 On The Way unknown Documentary film
2002 Lovers' Concerto
Lovers' Concerto (film)
Lovers' Concerto is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Lee Han. It is a romantic melodrama dealing with friendship, jealousy and the ties that bind.-Plot synopsis:...

Lee Ji-yoon On DVD and Blu-ray
2003 A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film written and directed by Kim Ji-woon...

Bae Su-yeon On DVD and Blu-ray
2004 My Little Bride
My Little Bride
My Little Bride is a Korean language romantic comedy film about an arranged marriage between a new teacher and a student. It was directed by Kim Ho Jun and was released in 2004. It was the second most popular Korean movie of 2004 in Korea, behind the blockbuster hit Taegukgi, with 3,149,500...

Seo Bo-eun On DVD and Blu-ray
2005 Innocent Steps
Innocent Steps
Innocent Steps is a 2005 South Korean film written and directed by Park Young-hoon...

Jang Chae-rin On DVD and Blu-ray
2006 Love Me Not
Love Me Not
Love Me Not is a 2006 South Korean romance film directed by Lee Cheol-ha and starring Moon Geun-young and Kim Joo-hyuk. It is based on the 2002 TBS Japanese drama 愛なんていらねぇよ、夏 , featuring Ryōko Hirosue.- Plot summary :Julian has lived off with the money he lures from his rich female customers...

Ryu-min On DVD and Blu-ray
Television Series
Year Film Role Networks
1999 Burnt Rice Teacher and Seven Potatoes Han Mi-soo KBS
2000 Autumn in My Heart Young Yoon/Choi Eun-suh KBS
Medical Center
Medical Center
- Medical care :* Clinic* Hospital* larger complex of medical facilities often including hospitals, research facilities, medical schools, and/or other health care facilities- Transit :*Medical Center , a Metro station...

cameo (episode 15) SBS
2001 The Lost Empire young Empress Myung-sung KBS
Life is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian film which tells the story of a Jewish Italian, Guido Orefice , who must employ his fertile imagination to help his family during their internment in a Nazi concentration camp.At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, Benigni won the Academy Award for Best Actor and...

young Yoo Hee-jung KBS2
2003 Only You Han Min-ju KBS2
2008 The Painter of Wind Shin Yun-bok SBS
2010 Cinderella's Sister
Cinderella's Sister
Cinderella's Sister , also known as Cinderella's Stepsister / A Modern Story of Revenge, is a romantic and melodramatic TV drama in Seoul, South Korea, under KBS network. It first aired on March 26, 2010, and ended its broadcast in June 2010...

Go Eun-jo/Song Eun-jo KBS2
Mary Stayed Out All Night
Mary Stayed Out All Night
Mary Stayed Out All Night is a South Korean Romance-Comedy television series, which originally aired from November 8 to December 28, 2010 on the Korean network KBS2, and starred Moon Geun Young, Jang Geun Suk, Kim Jae Wook and Kim Hyo Jin...

Wi Mae-ri KBS2
Stages Play
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Closer
Closer (play)
Closer is the third play written by English playwright Patrick Marber. The play was premiered at the Royal National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre in London in 1997, and made its North American debut at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway on 25 January 1999....

Alice Moon Geun-young first stages play

TV Appearances

  • 2011 Hong Eun Hee's Music Town (Radio)
  • Happy Together Season 3: Cinderella's Sister episode 142, 143(Chun Jung Myung, Taecyeon
    Taecyeon
    Ok Taec-Yeon , generally known as Taecyeon, is a member in the Korean boy band 2PM, where he is the main rapper...

    , Seowoo)(KBS2, 2010)
  • 2009 SBS Drama Awards, Co-Host (SBS, 2009)
  • Yashimanman: Love Me Not with Kim Joo-hyuk (SBS, 2006)
  • e-learning Championship Final guest MC (iTV, 2005)
  • Yashimanman: Innocent Steps with Park Gun-hyung (SBS, 2005)
  • Golden Bell Challenge: Gwangju International High School episode (KBS, 2004)
  • Park Soo-hong & Yoon Jung-soo's Love House: Jinju Joong-ang High School episode (MBC, 2004)
  • Fairytale World Dreams MC (KBS, 2003)
  • Son Chang Min & Kim Won Hee's 3 Days of Love (iTV, 2001)
  • Jung Euna's Good Morning (SBS, 2000)
  • Free Saturday: Autumn Tale Special (with Choi Woo Hyuk
    Choi Woo Hyuk
    Choi Woo Hyuk is a South Korean actor under Bel Actors Entertainment and was popularly known as the young "Yoon Junseo" in 'hit' Korean drama Endless Love 1:Autumn in my heart. He debuted as an actor on 1993.- Biography :...

    ) (KBS 2000)
  • Gwangju Broadcasting Station Quiz Champ: Woo-san Junior High School episode (KBC)
  • Music Camp VJ (MBC 2000~2001)
  • TV Brings Love (KBS, 1997) (Lee Min-woo, Park Jae-Hong
    Park Jae-Hong (baseball)
    Park Jae-Hong is a South Korean outfielder who currently plays for SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization. Park is currently considered one of the best five-tool players in the KBO league...

    , Park Yong-woo episodes)

Commercial Film/Model/Ambassador

  • 2010-2011 Model for Basic House Korea/China
  • 2010 Spokes-model for the Basic House Korea and China (with actor, Won Bin) (2010-2011)
  • 2009 Ambassador for the Love Tree Projects (2009-2010)
  • 2009 Spokes-model for the Bulgaris Yogurt
  • 2008 Spokes-model for the Innisfree (2007-2009)
  • 2007 Ambassador for the Pink Ribbon (Breast Cancer Awareness) (2007-2009)
  • 2005 Spokes-model for the Mr. Pizza (2005-2009)
  • 2005 Ambassador for the National Election Commission
  • 2004 Model for the VOV Cosmetics (2004-2006)
  • 2004 Model for the Ivy Club (2004-2005)
  • 2004 Model for the Empas (2004-2005)
  • 2004 Ambassador for the Young Voter’s Campaign
  • 2004 Ambassador for the Korean e-Learning Initiative
  • 2004 Ambassador for the Gwangju International Film Festival
  • 2003 Ambassador for the Gwangju International Film Festival
  • 2003 Ambassador for the Gwangju Kimchi Festival

Awards

Year Awards
1999
  • Model Edubox Kone Award (에듀박스 코네스상)
2000
  • KBS Drama Awards: Best Young Female Actress Award (Autumn Tale)
  • 2004
  • 25th Blue Dragon Film Awards: Most Popular Female Actress Award (My Little Bride)
  • 12th Choonsa Film Awards: Best New Female Actress Award (My Little Bride)
  • 41st Daejong Film Awards: Best New Female Actress Award and Most Popular Female Actress Award (My Little Bride)
  • 2005
  • 42nd Daejong Film Awards: Most Popular Female Actress Award (Innocent Steps)
  • 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards: Most Popular Female Actress Award (Innocent Steps)
  • 2006
  • 29th Golden Director Awards: Best Female Actress Award (Love Me Not)
  • 2008
  • SBS Drama Awards: Daesang Award (The Painter of the Wind)
  • SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Star Award (The Painter of the Wind)
  • SBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Moon Chae Won (The Painter of the Wind)
  • Grime Awards: Best Female Actress Award in a TV Series (The Painter of the Wind)
  • 2009
  • Seoul Drama Awards: Most Popular Female Actress Award (The Painter of the Wind)
  • 45th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best Leading Actress (The Painter of the Wind)
  • 2010
  • KBS Drama Awards: Best Actress Award Cinderella's Sister
  • KBS Drama Awards:Most Popular Female Actress Award (Cinderella's Sister)
  • KBS Drama Awards: Top Excellent Actress Award (Cinderella's Stepsister / Marry me! Mary)
  • KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Cinderella's Stepsister / Marry me! Mary)
  • KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Jang Geun-seok (Marry me! Mary)
  • Yahoo! Asia Buzz Star Awards: Female Buzz Star Award (Cinderella's Sister, Marry Me, Mary!)
  • Golden Ticket Awards: Closer
  • 2011
  • Seoul Drama Awards: Most Popular Female Actress Award (Mary Stayed Out All Night
    Mary Stayed Out All Night
    Mary Stayed Out All Night is a South Korean Romance-Comedy television series, which originally aired from November 8 to December 28, 2010 on the Korean network KBS2, and starred Moon Geun Young, Jang Geun Suk, Kim Jae Wook and Kim Hyo Jin...

    )
  • Seoul Drama Awards: Best Hallyu Drama Actress (Mary Stayed Out All Night
    Mary Stayed Out All Night
    Mary Stayed Out All Night is a South Korean Romance-Comedy television series, which originally aired from November 8 to December 28, 2010 on the Korean network KBS2, and starred Moon Geun Young, Jang Geun Suk, Kim Jae Wook and Kim Hyo Jin...

    )
  • 47th Baeksang Arts Award:Female Popularity Award for TV (Cinderella's Sister/ Marry Me Mary)

  • External links

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