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"Once We Were Us" Star Moon Ga Young's Best Actress Acceptance Speech at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards

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<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778302095282moon ga young if we best actress 62nd baeksang arts awards.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Moon Ga Young | Photo from @peakj.official</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong><em>If We</em></strong> actress <strong>Moon Ga Young</strong> won her first <strong>Baeksang Arts Awards </strong>for her film debut in a starring role. And her victory at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards, held on May 8, 2026 in Seoul, feels even more special as she marks her 20th anniversary in the industry this year.</p><p>Moon Ga Young remarkably transitioned from being a child model-actress to a teen actress to a leading lady. In the romantic drama film <em>If We</em>, a remake of the 2018 Chinese film <em><strong>Us and Them</strong></em>, <em></em>Moon Ga Young was paired with <strong>Koo Kyo Hwa</strong><strong>n</strong>; t<strong></strong>heir characters, Han Jeong Won and Lee Eun Ho, respectively, bring to life a love story grounded in reality, with all its ups and downs. The movie was well-received and reportedly grossed $17,758,350 domestically, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2025. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9qqQTtlQ0gY?si=e4YBl2PDG3q7C7mC" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>In her acceptance speech, Moon Ga Young, who wore a sexy wine-red slip dress with a thigh-high slit to the star-studded event, faced the crowd with quiet confidence, despite admitting she was nervous. She began her speech by thanking the people who worked on their movie, from those in front of the camera, her co-stars, as well as those behind the scenes.</p><p>She gave a special shoutout to <em>If We </em>director Kim Do Young, who, Moon Ga Young said, &quot;paved the way so I could run freely.&quot; &quot;I think you might be crying right now,&quot; she added. &quot;Thanks to you, Director, for always laughing and crying with me on set, I didn’t feel lonely for a single moment while acting.&quot;</p><p>The 29-year-old actress also dedicated the award to her onscreen partner, Koo Kyo Hwan, saying, &quot;And to my senior [Koo] Kyo-hwan—Eun-ho. Just as you said, that we acted for each other even in the moments we weren&#x27;t seen, this award belongs to you too. I want to say thank you so much for being a home for [my character] Jung-won and for being a reliable fence for me.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778304418987687176726_17933771133251707_767819337091395770_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p><em>If We </em>(also known as <em>Once We Were Us</em>) gave Moon Ga Young her first Baeksang Arts Awards nomination and, ultimately, her first win from the award-giving body—a Best Actress award, at that!</p><p>&quot;Just as Eun-ho helped Jung-won grow, I wish gratitude and peace to all the people I’ve crossed paths with who have made me who I am today,&quot; she continued. &quot;Actually, this year marks exactly my 20th anniversary [since debut]. There are so many directors here who have been with me since I was in middle school through my mid-to-late twenties. I’m so happy to see everyone, and I will work hard to continue growing in a way that makes you proud.&quot;</p><p>She also made sure to thank everyone who watched, supported, and loved their film. &quot;I’ve received so many confessions since the beginning of this year saying they would &#x27;give me their hearts.&#x27; I will gather those hearts well and continue to live while portraying countless lives and characters.&quot;</p><p>Finally, Moon Ga Young thanked her parents and older sister, who she said, &quot;are the reasons I live.&quot; &quot;I am so thankful, and I love you. Thank you,&quot; she concluded.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778304846296684432688_17933771076251707_3761187655836601961_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Moon Ga Young starred in K-dramas <strong><em>Welcome to Waikiki 2</em></strong>; <strong><em>Find Me in Your Memory</em></strong>;<em> <strong>True Beauty</strong></em>; <strong><em>Link: Eat, Love, Kill</em></strong>; <strong><em>The Interest of Love;</em></strong> <strong><em>My Dearest Nemesis</em></strong>; and <em><strong>Law and the City</strong></em>.</p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photo from <strong>@peakj.official</strong></p>

<p>The "If We" actress won her first Baeksang Arts Awards for her film debut in a starring role, and the victory feels even more special as she marks her 20th anniversary in the industry this year.</p>

The "If We" actress won her first Baeksang Arts Awards for her film debut in a starring role, and the victory feels even more special as she marks her 20th anniversary in the industry this year.

Moon Ga Young Wins Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards for Romantic Drama Film 'If We'

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Moon Ga Young Wins Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards for Romantic Drama Film 'If We'

Grace Libero

Published May 09, 2026 01:35 PM PHT

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Updated May 09, 2026 01:42 PM PHT

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