10 Quick Facts About Moon Chae-Won, The Feisty Leading Lady In "Flower Of Evil"

Moon Chae-won turns 34 years old in November. Nurturing her creative capabilities since she was little, she first thought that her future would be in the world of art. It was only when she was a university student that she gave acting a shot and discovered her true passion: to be an actress!

Photo Credit: Vincis-Bench 2012 campaign

Her acting career began in 2007 and it proved to be an interesting start, indeed! Then in her early 20s, she starred in teen-focused show "Mackerel Run" alongside none other than Lee Min-ho. (The two bested more than 50 other actors and actresses for their roles!).

Photo Credit: Vincis-Bench 2012 campaign

But unlike other up-and-coming actresses of her time, Moon Chae-won's rise to stardom didn't take very long. The year after her on-screen debut, she managed to catch the public's eye and critics' attention, too. Her role in period series "Painter of the Wind" pushed her career forward and it's only gotten bigger and brighter for her ever since.

Photo Credit: Vivienne Westwood sunglasses campaign

Speaking of "Painter of the Wind," there's something equally interesting about her role in it. She actually played a courtesan who falls in love with a man, or at least, a woman masquerading as a man. Despite the role's non-traditional and non-conservative portrayal of relationships, it garnered her and her co-star Moon Geun-young an award for Best Couple. It was considered a rather brave move for her that showed she was unafraid of pushing the limits of her chosen art form.

Photo Credit: Photo from SNP skincare

That would only be the first of many, many more awards that Moon Chae-won would eventually win. There are too many to list (a problem that most, if not all, actresses dream of having!), but some of her most lauded performances include those in period film "War of the Arrows" as well as K-Dramas "The Princess' Man," "The Innocent Man" and "Good Doctor."

Photo Credit: @myu_bless

More than having a likable onscreen presence, she's got an open secret for why she's one of Korea's most awarded actresses: she dives deep into roles, often doing research and participating in immersions to prepare for them beforehand. She's done everything and anything from horseback riding training, observing surgeons working in operating rooms, and learning the historical and cultural significance of the hanbok to be able to wear it with grace.

Photo Credit: Hilfiger Denim

With 13 years of acting experience to her name, Moon Chae-won often plays serious, psychologically-complex characters. Her most recent project, 2020's "Flower of Evil" continues this legacy; she plays a detective who discovers that her husband had deceived her with a stolen identity and makes it her mission to uncover his past.

Photo Credit: Photo from @myu_bless

Speaking of husbands, Moon Chae-won isn't married; however, that's not to say that she isn't in a relationship! To her biggest fans, she's frustratingly private about her personal life, never quite revealing if she's actively playing the dating game or not. It's been like this ever since she became a celebrity, and we suspect this is how it's going to be for a while.

Photo Credit: Photo from the Vincis-Bench 2012 campaign

Aside from her acting credits (she has so far acted in six films and 14 TV series), Moon Chae-won also has a pretty impressive endorsement catalogue. She's been tapped by skincare and fashion brands, among others, to model for them, and she's definitely no stranger to magazine editorials, either.

Photo Credit: SNP skincare

The best way to get to know Moon Chae-won is through her body of work. Her social media presence is certainly more low-key than that of other actresses of her caliber, almost never posting photos showing her life off-camera. Instead, she uses her Instagram account as a digital scrapbook for all her favorite bits and pieces of pop culture, including movies, books, shows, and songs.

Photo Credit: Photo from SNP skincare

And if you were wondering what some of her personal film favorites are, she's definitely into lesser known gems and forgotten classics. She's posted stills from "The Florida Project," "Anesthesia," "Una, "Arrival," and "The Bachelors." Who knows? She could even be getting acting inspiration from this virtual collection of hers.

Photo Credit: SNP skincare