Moon Sung-keun

Moon Sung-keun
Moon Sung-keun
Born	May 28, 1953 (age 70); Tokyo, Japan
Alma mater	Sogang University
Occupation(s)	Actor, politician
Years active	1985–present
Korean name
Hangul	문성근
Hanja	文盛瑾
Revised Romanization	Mun Seong-geun
McCune–Reischauer	Mun Sŏnggŭn
Website	thesase.com

Moon Sung-keun (born May 28, 1953) is a South Korean actor and politician. He has won three Blue Dragon Film Awards, two Baeksang Arts Awards, and two Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best Actor.

Career[edit]

Moon was born in Tokyo, Japan. His father was Rev. Moon Ik-hwan, who fought for democracy alongside Kim Dae-jung under the military regime led by Park Chung Hee in 1970s, and was a well-known pro-unification activist.^[1] After graduation from Sogang University with a bachelor's degree in International Business, Moon worked as a salaryman for eight years.

In 1985, he began acting in theater, and became a key figure in the beginning of the renaissance of Daehangno stage plays in the mid-1980s, playing the leading role in such mega-hits as Chilsu and Mansu and Till the End of Time.^[2] Moon made his film debut in 1990 with Black Republic directed by Park Kwang-su.^[3]

During his acting career, Moon has won Best Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards thrice, Baeksang Arts Awards twice, Chunsa Film Art Awards twice, and other accolades.

Moon started his political activities in 2009, becoming Democratic United Party's temporary chairman in 2012.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] Since then, he has mostly made special appearances in movies.

In 2017, Moon and a group of South Korean artists filed complaints against two former presidents Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and other six senior officials, asking for a prosecution investigation over the allegation of an "artist blacklist."^[10]

Moon is a frequent collaborator of director Lee Chang-dong. He has starred in four of Lee's films, including critically acclaimed Burning (2018).^[11]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Film performances
Year	Title		Role	Note	Ref.
Year	English	Korean	Role	Note	Ref.
1990	Mother's Summer	어머니의 여름	Gwang-su
	Our Class Accepts Anyone Regardless of Grade	꼴지부터 일등까지 우리 반을 찾습니다	Teacher
	Black Republic	그들도 우리처럼	Kim Gi-yeong/Han Tae-hun
1991	I Want to Live Just Until 20 years old	스무살까지만 살고 싶어요	Choi Hyeon-jun
	Berlin Report	베를린 리포트	Yeong-cheol
	The Road to the Race Track	경마장 가는 길	R
1993	No Emergency Exit	비상구가 없다	Dong-o
	The 101st Proposition	101번째 프로포즈	Yeong-seop
	To the Starry Island	그 섬에 가고싶다	Moon Deok-bae/Moon Jae-gu
1994	To You from Me	너에게 나를 보낸다	"I"
1994	Out to the World	세상 밖으로	Seong-keun
1995	Bitter and Sweet	남자는 괴로워
	Sunset Into the Neon Lights	네온 속으로 노을지다	Kim Gyu-hwan
	A Single Spark	아름다운 청년 전태일	Kim Yeong-su
	Man	맨?
1996	A Petal	꽃잎	Jang
1997	Green Fish	초록물고기	Bae Tae-gon
1998	Film-making	죽이는 이야기	Guido
1998	Bedroom and Courtroom	생과부 위자료 청구소송	Chu Hyeong-do
2000	Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors	오! 수정	Yeong-su
2002	Jealousy Is My Middle Name	질투는 나의 힘	Han Yun-sik
2005	Princess Aurora	오로라 공주	Oh Seong-ho
2006	Hanbando	한반도	Gwon Yong-hwan
	Woman on the Beach	해변의 여인	Voice
	Puzzle	두뇌유희 프로젝트, 퍼즐	Hwan
2007	Soo	수	Gu Yang-won
2008	Public Enemy Returns	강철중: 공공의 적 1-1	Tae-san
2009	Missing	실종	Pan-gon
	If You Were Me 4: Relay	시선1318	Principal
	A Brand New Life	여행자	Doctor
	Visitors: Lost in the Mountains	어떤 방문: 첩첩산중
2010	A Little Pond	작은 연못	Mr. Moon
2010	Oki's Movie	옥희의 영화	Professor Song
2012	Unbowed	부러진 화살	Judge Shin Jae-yeol
	In Another Country	다른 나라에서	Mun-su
	National Security	남영동1985	President Yoon
2013	Hwayi: A Monster Boy	화이: 괴물을 삼킨 아이	CEO Jin	Special appearance
2014	A Girl at My Door	도희야	Nam Gyeong-dae	Special appearance
2014	Haemoo	해무	Wan-ho
2015	Memories of the Sword	협녀: 칼의 기억	Lee Ee-myeong	Special appearance
2016	Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet	동주	Jeong Ji-yong	Special appearance
2017	The Tooth and the Nail	석조저택 살인사건	Yoon Young-hwan
	On the Beach at Night Alone	밤의 해변에서 혼자	Sang-won
	Forgotten	기억의 밤
	1987: When the Day Comes	1987		Special appearance
2018	Burning	버닝	Attorney
2019	Black Money	블랙머니	Kang Ki-choon	Special appearance

Television series[edit]

Television series appearances
Year	Title		Role	Note	Ref.
Year	English	Korean	Role	Note	Ref.
2008	The Scales of Providence	신의 저울	Kim Hyeok-jae
2009	Ja Myung Go	자명고	King Daemusin
2017	Distorted	조작	Koo Tae-won
2018	Life	라이프	Kim Tae-sang		^[12]
2018	Encounter	남자친구	Cha Jong-hyun		^[13]
2019	Confession	자백	Cho Myung-geun		^[14]
2019	Vagabond	배가본드	Hong Soon-Jo		^[15]
2020	Nobody Knows	아무도 모른다	Kwang In-beom
2020	When My Love Blooms	화양연화	Jang San
2021	The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim	우수무당 가두심	Kyung-pil		^[16]
2022	Insider	인사이더	Do Won-bong		^[17]
2022	Mental Coach Jegal	멘탈코치 제갈길	Park Seung-tae^[18]
2024	Marry My Husband	내 남편과 결혼해줘	Yoo Han-il

Web series[edit]

Web series appearances
Year	Title		Role	Notes	Ref.
Year	English	Korean	Role	Notes	Ref.
2023	Moving	무빙	Min Yong-joon	Disney+ Original	^[19]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
1986	22nd Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actor (Theater)	Han's Chronicle	Won
1990	1st Chunsa Film Art Awards	Best New Actor	Black Republic	Won
1990	11th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Actor		Nominated
1991	27th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actor (Film)		Won
	29th Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor		Nominated
	12th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Berlin Report	Nominated
1992	3rd Chunsa Film Art Awards	Best Actor	The Road to the Race Track	Won
	12th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards	Best Actor		Won
	30th Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor		Nominated
	13th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Actor		Won
1993	14th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Actor	The 101st Proposition	Nominated
1994	32nd Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor	The 101st Proposition	Nominated
	32nd Grand Bell Awards	Best Supporting Actor	To the Starry Island	Nominated
	15th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Actor	To You from Me	Won
1995	33rd Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor	To You from Me	Nominated
1996	41st Asia-Pacific Film Festival	Best Actor	A Petal	Won
	34th Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor		Nominated
	17th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Actor		Won
1997	35th Grand Bell Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Green Fish	Nominated
2003	2nd Korean Film Awards	Best Actor	Jealousy Is My Middle Name	Nominated

References[edit]

^ Kim, Tong-hyung (2 October 2007). "Son of Famed Dissident in Summit Delegation". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ Lee, Yong-sung (31 October 2005). "Film stars attract audience to drama". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ 문성근 [Moon Sung-keun]. Korean Movie Database (in Korean). Retrieved 2010-02-11.
^ "Uri Party Black Sheep Resign After Comments on Party Split". The Chosun Ilbo. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ Ser, Myo-ja (27 December 2011). "Roh loyalists bid to cut GNP strength in Busan". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ Lee, Sun-young (16 January 2012). "Ex-actor off to strong start in politics". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ Lee, Tae-hoon (16 April 2012). "Moon takes helm of opposition party". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ Kim, Jung-yoon (23 April 2012). "DUP leader calls for Moon's resignation". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ Choi, He-suk (3 May 2013). "Key pro-Roh figure quits DUP ahead of leadership election". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
^ "S.Korean celebrities accuse two ex-presidents over "artist blacklist"". Xinhua. September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on January 10, 2020.
^ ‘버닝’ 이창동 문성근 최승호, 진보인사 3인방의 ‘반갑다 친구야’. Single List (in Korean). May 18, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
^ [공식입장] 문성근, '라이프' 합류… 이동욱·조승우와 호흡. News1 (in Korean). March 16, 2018.
^ [단독] 문성근, 송혜교 아빠 된다…‘남자친구’ 합류. Naver (in Korean). TV Report. September 7, 2018.
^ '자백' 문성근, 오늘(14일) 첫 등장…강렬한 눈빛과 존재감. joynews24 (in Korean). April 14, 2019.
^ [단독]김민종·백윤식·이경영·문성근, 250억원 '배가본드' 출연. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). May 11, 2018.
^ Kim Ga-young (June 30, 2021). "우수무당 가두심' 문성근X윤석화X배해선 합류…김새론X남다름 호흡" [Outstanding shaman street-shim' Moon Seong-geun X Yoon Seok-hwa X Bae Hae-sun joins... Kim Sae-ron X Nam Da-reum acting]. edaily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
^ Yoo Jung-min (May 25, 2022). "'인사이더' 서로 다른 목적의 플레이어들…단체 포스터 공개" ['Insider' players for different purposes... group poster release] (in Korean). MBC Entertainment. Retrieved June 7, 2022 – via Naver.
^ Jang Ah-reum (August 4, 2022). "멘탈코치 제갈길' 정우·이유미·권율·박세영, 긍정 에너지 넘친 첫 리딩 [N컷]" [Mental Coach Je Gal-gil' Jung Woo, Lee Yu-mi, Kwon Yul, Park Se-young, the first reading full of positive energy [N cut]] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^ Kang Min-kyung (October 29, 2021). "디즈니+ '무빙', 류승룡X한효주X조인성..★들의 대잔치 '韓 액션 히어로" [Disney+ 'Moving', Ryoo Seung-ryong X Han Hyo-joo X Jo In-seong..★'s 'Korean Action Hero] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Naver.

External links[edit]

Official website (in Korean)
Moon Sung-keun at the Korean Movie Database
Moon Sung-keun at IMDb
Moon Sung-keun at HanCinema
Moon Sung-keun on Twitter (in Korean)
Moon Sung-keun on Facebook (in Korean)

[1] Kim, Tong-hyung (2 October 2007). "Son of Famed Dissident in Summit Delegation". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[2] Lee, Yong-sung (31 October 2005). "Film stars attract audience to drama". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[KMDb_Korean-3] 문성근 [Moon Sung-keun]. Korean Movie Database (in Korean). Retrieved 2010-02-11.

[4] "Uri Party Black Sheep Resign After Comments on Party Split". The Chosun Ilbo. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[5] Ser, Myo-ja (27 December 2011). "Roh loyalists bid to cut GNP strength in Busan". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[6] Lee, Sun-young (16 January 2012). "Ex-actor off to strong start in politics". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[7] Lee, Tae-hoon (16 April 2012). "Moon takes helm of opposition party". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[8] Kim, Jung-yoon (23 April 2012). "DUP leader calls for Moon's resignation". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[9] Choi, He-suk (3 May 2013). "Key pro-Roh figure quits DUP ahead of leadership election". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.

[10] "S.Korean celebrities accuse two ex-presidents over "artist blacklist"". Xinhua. September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on January 10, 2020.

[11] ‘버닝’ 이창동 문성근 최승호, 진보인사 3인방의 ‘반갑다 친구야’. Single List (in Korean). May 18, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

[12] [공식입장] 문성근, '라이프' 합류… 이동욱·조승우와 호흡. News1 (in Korean). March 16, 2018.

[13] [단독] 문성근, 송혜교 아빠 된다…‘남자친구’ 합류. Naver (in Korean). TV Report. September 7, 2018.

[14] '자백' 문성근, 오늘(14일) 첫 등장…강렬한 눈빛과 존재감. joynews24 (in Korean). April 14, 2019.

[15] [단독]김민종·백윤식·이경영·문성근, 250억원 '배가본드' 출연. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). May 11, 2018.

[16] Kim Ga-young (June 30, 2021). "우수무당 가두심' 문성근X윤석화X배해선 합류…김새론X남다름 호흡" [Outstanding shaman street-shim' Moon Seong-geun X Yoon Seok-hwa X Bae Hae-sun joins... Kim Sae-ron X Nam Da-reum acting]. edaily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 30, 2021.

[17] Yoo Jung-min (May 25, 2022). "'인사이더' 서로 다른 목적의 플레이어들…단체 포스터 공개" ['Insider' players for different purposes... group poster release] (in Korean). MBC Entertainment. Retrieved June 7, 2022 – via Naver.

[18] Jang Ah-reum (August 4, 2022). "멘탈코치 제갈길' 정우·이유미·권율·박세영, 긍정 에너지 넘친 첫 리딩 [N컷]" [Mental Coach Je Gal-gil' Jung Woo, Lee Yu-mi, Kwon Yul, Park Se-young, the first reading full of positive energy [N cut]] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Naver.

[19] Kang Min-kyung (October 29, 2021). "디즈니+ '무빙', 류승룡X한효주X조인성..★들의 대잔치 '韓 액션 히어로" [Disney+ 'Moving', Ryoo Seung-ryong X Han Hyo-joo X Jo In-seong..★'s 'Korean Action Hero] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Naver.

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v t e Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actor
1960s	Kim Seung-ho (1963) Kim Jin-kyu (1964) Choi Moo-ryong (1965) Shin Young-kyun (1966) Kim Seung-ho (1967) Shin Young-kyun (1969)
1970s	Park No-sik (1970) Choi Moo-ryong (1971) Park No-sik (1972) Shin Young-kyun (1973)
1990s	Ahn Sung-ki (1990) Im Sung-min (1991) Moon Sung-keun (1992) Kim Myung-gon (1993) Moon Sung-keun and Park Joong-hoon (1994) Choi Min-soo (1995) Moon Sung-keun (1996) Han Suk-kyu (1997) Park Shin-yang (1998) Lee Jung-jae (1999)
2000s	Sol Kyung-gu (2000) Choi Min-sik (2001) Sol Kyung-gu (2002) Choi Min-sik (2003) Jang Dong-gun (2004) Hwang Jung-min (2005) Park Joong-hoon and Ahn Sung-ki (2006) Song Kang-ho (2007) Kim Yoon-seok (2008) Kim Myung-min (2008)
2010s	Jung Jae-young (2010) Park Hae-il (2011) Choi Min-sik (2012) Hwang Jung-min (2013) Song Kang-ho (2014) Yoo Ah-in (2015) Lee Byung-hun (2016) Song Kang-ho (2017) Kim Yoon-seok (2018) Jung Woo-sung (2019)
2020s	Yoo Ah-in (2020) Sol Kyung-gu (2021) Park Hae-il (2022) Lee Byung-hun (2023)

v t e Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor – Film
1960s	Kim Seok-gang (1965) - (1966) - (1967) O Yeong-il (1968) - (1969)
1970s	Kim Hee-ra (1970) Hah Myung-joong (1971) Sin Yeong-il (1972) Park Ji-hun and Choi Jung-min (1973) - (1974) Kim Choo-ryeon and Yoo Young-guk (1975) Min Cheol (1976) Jin Yoo-young (1977) Kim Heung-ki (1978) - (1979)
1980s	- (1980) Kim Seong-chan (1981) Lee Yeong-ho (1982) - (1983) Kim Soo-chul (1984) Kang Seok-woo (1985) Yim Sung-min (1986) Park Joong-hoon (1987) Min Gyu (1988) Choi Min-soo (1989)
1990s	Kim Bo-sung (1990) Moon Sung-keun (1991) Lee Il-jae (1992) Cho Jae-hyun (1993) Kim Byung-se (1994) Lee Jung-jae (1995) Han Suk-kyu (1996) Park Shin-yang (1997) Im Chang-jung (1998) Lee Sung-jae (1999)
2000s	Sol Kyung-gu (2000) Yeo Hyun-soo (2001) Jung Woon-taek (2002) Kwon Sang-woo (2003) Bae Yong-joon (2004) Yoon Kye-sang (2005) Lee Joon-gi (2006) Jung Ji-hoon (2007) Jang Keun-suk (2008) So Ji-sub and Kang Ji-hwan (2009)
2010s	Lee Min-ki (2010) Choi Seung-hyun (2011) Kim Sung-kyun (2012) Ji Dae-han (2013) Kim Soo-hyun (2014) Park Yoo-chun (2015) Park Jeong-min (2016) Ryu Jun-yeol (2017) Koo Kyo-hwan (2018) Kim Young-kwang (2019)
2020s	Park Myung-hoon (2020) Hong Kyung (2021) Lee Hong-nae (2022) Park Jin-young (2023)
^* no winner

v t e Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best Actor
1990s	Ahn Sung-ki (1990) Lee Deok-hwa (1991) Moon Sung-keun (1992) Lee Deok-hwa (1993) Jang Dong-hwi (1994) Hong Kyung-in (1995) Park Shin-yang (1999)
2000s	Sol Kyung-gu (2000) Yu Oh-seong (2001) Sol Kyung-gu (2002) Song Kang-ho (2003) Choi Min-sik (2004) Lee Byung-hun (2005) Kam Woo-sung (2006) Cha Seung-won (2007) Kim Yoon-seok and Ha Jung-woo (2008) Song Kang-ho (2009)
2010s	Sol Kyung-gu (2010) Song Kang-ho (2014) Ha Jung-woo (2015) Yoo Ah-in (2016) Ha Jung-woo (2017) Jung Woo-sung (2018) Ju Ji-hoon (2019)
2020s	Lee Byung-hun (2020) Song Joong-ki (2021) Park Hae-il (2022) Ryu Jun-yeol (2023)

Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best New Actor
1990s	Moon Sung-keun (1990) Choi Jin-young (1991) Kim Yong-il (1992) Kim Kyu-chul (1993) Kim Kap-soo (1994) Han Suk-kyu and Lee Byung-hun (1995) Lee Sung-jae (1999)
2000s	Yoo Ji-tae (2000) N/A (2001) Kim Sang-kyung (2002) Park Hae-il (2003) Won Bin (2004) Jin Tae-hyun (2005) Uhm Tae-woong (2006) Jung Kyung-ho (2007) Daniel Henney (2008) Song Chang-eui and Cha Seung-woo (2009)
2010s	Cho Jin-woong and Choi Jae-woong (2010) N/A (2014) N/A (2015) Kang Ha-neul (2016) Koo Kyo-hwan (2017) Oh Seung-hoon (2018) Gong Myung (2019)
2020s	Park Hae-soo (2020) Lee Bong-geun (2021) Mu Jin-sung and Kim Dong-hwi (2022) Kim Sung-cheol (2023)

v t e Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for Best Actor
1980s	Choi Bool-am (1980) Jeon Moo-song (1981) Ahn Sung-ki (1983) Ahn Sung-ki (1984) Hah Myung-joong (1985) Lee Dae-geun (1986) Shin Seong-il (1987) Yu In-chon (1988) Park Joong-hoon (1989)
1990s	Park Joong-hoon (1990) Lee Young-ha (1991) Moon Sung-keun (1992) Kim Myung-gon (1993) Ahn Sung-ki (1994) Ahn Sung-ki (1995) Ahn Sung-ki (1996) Han Suk-kyu (1997) Song Kang-ho (1998) Lee Jung-jae (1999)
2000s	Park Joong-hoon (2000) Choi Min-sik (2001) Sol Kyung-gu (2002) Song Kang-ho (2003) Choi Min-sik (2004) Lee Byung-hun (2005) Jung Jin-young (2006) Song Kang-ho (2007) So Ji-sub (2008) Lee Beom-soo (2009)
2010s	Gang Dong-won (2010) Ha Jung-woo (2011) Ahn Sung-ki (2012) Song Kang-ho (2013) Choi Min-sik (2014) Jung Jae-young (2015) Lee Byung-hun (2016) Sol Kyung-gu (2017) Lee Sung-min (2018) Shin Ha-kyun (2019)
2020s	Lee Byung-hun (2020) Sol Kyung-gu (2021) Jung Woo-sung (2022) Ryu Jun-yeol (2023)