Biography
Who is Moon Geun-young?
Early life and career beginnings
Moon Geun-young was born in Gwangju, South Korea. Before she became a professional actor, she spent time modeling for various magazines and filming commercials. She launched her acting career in 1999 by appearing in the documentary drama On the Road, which was directed by Choi Jae-eun.
Her rise to national fame happened quickly after she played the younger version of a character in the television drama Autumn in My Heart in 2000. For this specific role, she earned the Best Young Actress award at the KBS Drama Awards that same year. Following this success, she continued to work steadily, appearing in the historical drama Empress Myeongseong in 2001 and making her film debut in Lovers' Concerto in 2002, where she played the younger sister of the character portrayed by Cha Tae-hyun.
Rise to stardom and major film roles
In 2003, Moon gained significant attention for her performance in the horror film A Tale of Two Sisters, directed by Kim Jee-woon. This production became one of the highest-grossing horror films in the country and reached international audiences. She followed this success in 2004 by headlining the romantic comedy My Little Bride, a project that secured her reputation as a major box-office draw. Due to the popularity of this film, the press frequently referred to her as the Nation's Little Sister.
Her career continued to grow with roles in films like Innocent Steps in 2005 and Love Me Not in 2006. During this period, she also took on hosting duties for the Pusan International Film Festival alongside veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki. She eventually pursued higher education, graduating from Gwangju Gukje High School in 2006 before enrolling at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul to study Korean Language and Literature.
Acting acclaim and television achievements
Moon returned to television in 2008 for the period drama Painter of the Wind, where she played the historical painter Shin Yun-bok. Her portrayal of the cross-dressing artist earned her significant critical praise, including Best Actress at the Grimae Awards and Best TV Actress at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards. She became the youngest recipient of the Daesang at the SBS Drama Awards for this work.
Over the following decade, she maintained a consistent presence on screen. Her credits include the romantic drama Cinderella's Sister in 2010, the series Cheongdam-dong Alice in 2012, and the historical drama Goddess of Fire in 2013. She also expanded her work into the theater, performing in a Korean production of the play Closer in 2010 and Romeo and Juliet in 2016. In 2022, she signed a professional contract with Cree Company.
Philanthropy and personal life
Moon Geun-young has been noted for her extensive charitable activities. She donated significant sums to the organization Morning Reading, which promotes literacy, and contributed over 850 million won to the Community Chest of Korea over a ten-year period. Her donations have helped build children's libraries and provided medical subsidies for children suffering from cancer. Also, she established the Hangeul Library in Sydney to support Korean expatriates and donated the Haenam Children's Center to a charity group in 2009.
Regarding her personal life, she dated actor Kim Bum for seven months between 2013 and 2014. In July 2026, her agency confirmed that she married musical actor Jung Pyeong. Also, she has faced health challenges, including a diagnosis of compartment syndrome, which required emergency medical treatment.
Birthday and age
Moon Geun-young was born on May 6, 1987, which makes Moon 39 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Moon shares the date with 28 other famous people.
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