Moon Ga-young

Moon was born on July 10, 1996, in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to South Korean parents as the second daughter of two siblings. Her father, who majored in physics, and her mother, who studied music (piano), met as international students in Germany and got married. In 2005, her family moved back to South Korea when she was in third grade of elementary school. Moon graduated from an all-girls middle school and high school. Moon is also fluent in German and English as a result of her time in Germany. She can also play the piano, flute, and perform ballet. In November 2014, Moon successfully completed her college scholastic test. By January 2015, she enrolled as a freshman in the Class of '15 at Sungkyunkwan University. She chose to study in the Department of Theater and Film to pursue her passion for acting and classical literature. ==Career==

2005–2010: Early career as child actress and model Moon was first scouted as a child model for a clothing magazine in Germany while being pushed in a stroller by her mother. In 2006, Moon began her career as child actress a child actress, debuting in the film Bloody Reunion. She appeared in several film projects over the following years, providing her voice for Black House (2007) and appearing in minor roles in Shadows in the Palace (2007), Our Town (2007), and Do You See Seoul? (2008). While in high school, Moon made her mark as the mysterious character Seohyun in Lee Si-young's Killer Toon, directed by Kim Yong-gyun and released on June 27, 2013. This breakthrough role significantly boosted her prominence. In 2013, she was also cast in the KBS TV weekend drama ''Wang's Family'', written by Moon Young-nam and directed by Jin Hyun-wook. Moon portrayed Wang Hae-bak, the fourth daughter of the Wang family, who, despite being a high school student absorbed in her smartphone and rarely communicating with her family, impresses everyone with her exceptional academic performance and resourcefulness. In April 2013, she gained attention for her performance alongside Baekhyun on SBS's Inkigayo, which led her to trend at the top of real-time search terms on various portal sites. Furthermore, Moon was chosen to portray Oh-reum, a ghost with a compelling backstory, in tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama Who Are You? which premiered on July 29, 2013. Her character appears in the first two episodes of the series, which stars So Yi-hyun, Ok Taec-yeon, and Kim Jae-wook. Starring alongside TVXQ's Changmin, In 2016, Moon played a supporting role in the SBS television series ''Don't Dare to Dream''. Alongside characters played by Kim Jung-hyun and Ahn Woo-yeon, her character formed a trio referred to as the "three musketeers." Ppal-gang was depicted as a teenager who prioritized academics while maintaining a protective barrier against the adults who had caused her emotional distress. In 2017, Moon appeared in a supporting role in the medical fantasy drama Live Up to Your Name. She portrayed Dong Mak-gae, the loyal assistant to Heo Im (Kim Nam-gil). Her performance earned praise for her portrayal of a cross-dressing character within the historical setting of the series. That same year, Moon starred in the KBS drama special Waltzing Alone, which marked her first adult role after turning 20. She portrayed Kim Min-sun, a struggling job seeker and 2009 high school graduate. The character, depicted as older than Moon's actual age at the time, was characterized as an individual facing career setbacks and social difficulties. She played Choi Soo-ji, the daughter of a medical foundation chairman who schemes to seduce Kwon Si-hyeon (portrayed by Woo Do-hwan). Moon's performance earned her the Excellence Award for Best Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama at the MBC Drama Awards. The role depicts a woman forced to seek financial independence after her wedding is canceled following the collapse of her father's business. In the following year, Moon starred as the female lead in the romance series Find Me in Your Memory, portraying Yeo Ha-jin, an actress and influencer who has suppressed her past memories. Her character becomes involved with a news anchor (played by Kim Dong-wook) diagnosed with hyperthymesia, a condition involving near-perfect memory. It was broadcast on MBC TV from March 18 to May 13, 2020. Later, Moon took on the lead role of Lim Ju-kyung in the tvN series True Beauty, alongside Cha Eun-woo, Hwang In-youp, and Park Yoo-na, which aired in December 2020. Based on the Line Webtoon Line Webtoon of the same name by Yaongyi, the role follows a high school student who masters the art of makeup to transform her appearance after experiencing bullying and discrimination based on her looks. In 2021, Moon starred alongside Yoon Kye-sang in the music video for "Cheers," a track by Lee Chan-hyuk, Colde, and Sogumm, produced by Code Kunst. Directed by Kwon Oh-jun, the project was part of Elle Korea's "Reconnect 2021" initiative, a campaign designed to support and encourage youth. In 2022, Moon reunited with director Hong Jong-chan for the tvN fantasy-melodrama Link: Eat, Love, Kill, portraying Noh Da-hyun, a trainee at Jihwayang restaurant who became love interest of Eun Gye-hoon (portrayed by Yeo Jin-goo), a sous chef at the same restaurant. In the end of 2022, Moon starred in the JTBC office-romance drama The Interest of Love. Moon portrayed Ahn Soo-young, a head teller at KCU Bank's Yeongpo branch who maintains a cynical and guarded view of romance. Her perspective begins to shift after she becomes involved with her colleague Ha Sang-soo (portrayed by Yoo Yeon-seok) who introduces new emotional complexity to her life. 2024–to present: Literary debut and continued screen career In February 2024, Moon debuted as an author with the publication of her first prose collection, Pata, featuring personal thoughts and reflections. The collection's pre-sale on February 27 reached 2,000 copies, leading to an immediate second printing, a performance noted by industry analysts as a significant achievement in South Korea's publishing sector. In July 2024, publisher Wisdom House announced international distribution agreements for the title with AtmanBooks in Taiwan and ShiraMedia in Indonesia. In her screen career, Moon collaborated with director Hong Jong-chan for Daesung's "Falling Slowly" music video, released on March 5, 2024. The project featured a reunion with her Welcome to Waikiki 2 co-star, Kim Seon-ho. On July 1, 2024, Moon signed an exclusive contract with management company Peak J Entertainment. Shortly after, tvN confirmed her as the lead alongside Choi Hyun-wook in the series My Dearest Nemesis.'''''''' The series is based on Black Salt Dragon, a webtoon by Hye Jin-yang. The drama is directed by Lee Soo-hyun, known for Delightfully Deceitful'' and written by Kim Soo-yeon. It was produced by Studio N and planned by Studio Dragon. The film achieved commercial success, becoming the first domestic romance in several years to surpass two million admissions and maintaining a top position at the South Korean box office through early 2026. ==Endorsements==

Moon debuted as a child model in 2005. and cosmetics label Dermafirm. That same year, she collaborated with her Welcome to Waikiki 2 co-star Kim Seon-ho for the outdoor apparel brand Nau. In 2022, Moon’s portfolio grew to include the sports fashion brand Le Coq Sportif and vegan cosmetics brand Dinto. Her presence in high fashion peaked in late 2023; following her appearance at Dolce & Gabbana's Spring/Summer 2024 show in Milan Fashion Week on September 2023. Following the event, the marketing platform Lefty ranked her as the event’s most influential participant, citing her high earned media value. This impact led to a W magazine feature and her subsequent appointment as a global brand ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana in November 2023. She concluded the year with a campaign for Calvin Klein in December 2023. In February 2024, Moon maintained her international fashion presence by attending Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter show in Milan Fashion Week. In March 2024, Moon was named a Tumi luggage global ambassador. ==Philanthropy==

On May 20, 2017, as a goodwill ambassador for the international relief NGO Plan Korea, Moon participated in the "Plan Art Market" held at Everland's Rose Garden to commemorate World Children's Day. The event aimed to raise funds for global child relief, specifically supporting the construction of play facilities for a kindergarten in Cambodia. Proceeds from Moon's March 2024 prose collection, PATA, have supported multiple charitable causes. She donated 100 million won from the book's earnings to Ewha Womans University Medical Center in August 2024, followed by a 50 million won donation via Cointree in February 2026. The latter contribution supports medical and self-reliance projects for women and children in Tulum, Mexico. ==Filmography==

Film Television series Television shows Hosting Music video appearances ==Ambassadorship==

Awards and nominations Listicles == Notes ==