Moon So-ri

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Moon So-ri

Role / Field:

Acclaimed South Korean actress known for intense dramatic roles in cinema.

Born:

1974-07-02

Century / Era:

1974s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Moon So-ri (Korean: 문소리; born July 2, 1974) is a South Korean actress and filmmaker. She began her career on stage as part of the theater company Hangang and made her feature film debut in Lee Chang-dong's Peppermint Candy (1999). Moon gained international recognition for the romantic drama Oasis (2002), which earned her the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 59th Venice International Film Festival, making her the second South Korean recipient. Over the following decades, Moon has collaborated extensively with auteurs such as Im Sang-soo, Hong Sang-soo, and Zhang Lü. Her notable films include A Good Lawyer's Wife (2003), Forever the Moment (2008), Ha Ha Ha (2010), Hill of Freedom (2014), and Ode to the Goose (2018).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She earned further acclaim for the drama film Three Sisters (2020). Alongside her screen career, she has remained active on stage with the company Chaimu, and expanded into directing with several short films and the feature The Running Actress (2017). In the 2020s, Moon increased her work in streaming and television productions, appearing in series such as On the Verge of Insanity (2021), Queenmaker (2023), and When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025). Moon So-ri was born in Busan, South Korea, on July 2, 1974. She is the eldest daughter of Moon Chang-jun, a taxi driver, and Lee Hyang-ran, a street-food vendor, and has one younger brother Moon Yang-il.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Her family relocated to Samjeon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, during her fifth year of elementary school. She subsequently attended Seoul Samjeon Elementary School, Seokchon Middle School, and Jamsil Girls' High School. In 1990, as a freshman at Jamsil Girls' High School, Moon watched her first play, Equus, which starred Shin Goo and Choi Min-sik. This experience sparked her interest in acting. However, her frail health and a restrictive upbringing limited her access to acting at that time.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1974 (1974-07-02): Birth of Moon So-ri — Acclaimed South Korean actress known for intense dramatic roles in cinema.
2. 1990: 1990 Milestone — In 1990, as a freshman at Jamsil Girls' High School, Moon watched her first play, Equus, which starred Shin Goo and Choi Min-sik.
3. 1999: 1999 Milestone — She began her career on stage as part of the theater company Hangang and made her feature film debut in Lee Chang-dong's Peppermint Candy (1999).
4. 2002: 2002 Milestone — Moon gained international recognition for the romantic drama Oasis (2002), which earned her the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 59th Venice International Film Festival, making her the second South Korean recipient.
5. 2003: 2003 Milestone — Her notable films include A Good Lawyer's Wife (2003), Forever the Moment (2008), Ha Ha Ha (2010), Hill of Freedom (2014), and Ode to the Goose (2018).
6. 2017: 2017 Milestone — Alongside her screen career, she has remained active on stage with the company Chaimu, and expanded into directing with several short films and the feature The Running Actress (2017).
7. 2020: 2020 Milestone — She earned further acclaim for the drama film Three Sisters (2020).
8. 2021: 2021 Milestone — In the 2020s, Moon increased her work in streaming and television productions, appearing in series such as On the Verge of Insanity (2021), Queenmaker (2023), and When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Moon So-ri

True or False: “Moon So-ri's first major film role was in the critically acclaimed movie Peppermint Candy.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While she debuted in Peppermint Candy (1999), her initial interest and early training were heavily rooted in theater work with the company Hangang.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Akram Khan (dancer) — Contemporary (Born in 1974) (1974): Pioneering English dancer and choreographer blending Kathak and contemporary forms.
• Adolf, King of the Romans — Shared historical date (07-02 · Died) (1298): Count of Nassau and elected King of the Romans, ruling until his deposition in 1298.
• Akechi Mitsuhide — Shared historical date (07-02 · Died) (1582): A prominent samurai general of the Sengoku period, known for his betrayal of Oda Nobunaga.
• Alanis Morissette — Historical peer (Born in 1974) (1974): Iconic singer-songwriter known for raw emotion and confessional alt-rock anthems.
• Alex Jones — Historical peer (Born in 1974) (1974): American far-right commentator and prominent conspiracy theorist.
• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• Akio Morita — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Abba Eban — Historical peer (Died in 2002) (2002): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• 1974 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1974
• July 2 (07-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 2

Frequently Asked Questions about Moon So-ri