Na Moon-hee

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Na Moon-hee

Role / Field:

Iconic South Korean actress known for portraying the 'national mother' figure across decades.

Born:

1941-11-30

Century / Era:

1941s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Na Moon-hee (Korean: 나문희; Na Kyung-ja, Korean: 나경자; November 30, 1941) is a South Korean actress. Since 1960, Na has had a prolific acting career in television and film spanning more than five decades. She established a classic Korean mother persona with her TV dramas Even if the Wind Blows, The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World (written by Noh Hee-kyung), My Name is Kim Sam-soon, My Rosy Life, Goodbye Solo, Amnok River Flows (based on Der Yalu fließt), and It's Me, Grandma. On the big screen, Na has received acclaim for her roles in Crying Fist, You Are My Sunshine, Cruel Winter Blues and I Can Speak. Her critically acclaimed film I Can Speak (2017) won her the Best Actress trophy in three prestigious award ceremonies: 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards and 55th Grand Bell Awards — a feat that has yet to be repeated.

Career & Major Achievements

After a series of comic roles in sitcoms such as Unstoppable High Kick!, the veteran actress garnered newfound popularity and played the title character in big screen comedy Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K, followed by starring roles in Girl Scout, Harmony, Twilight Gangsters, and Miss Granny. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from MBC in 2010, and the prestigious Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2012. Na Kyung-ja was born on November 30, 1941, in Beijing, China and grew up there until she was 5 years old. Her family came to Korea in the year of liberation, and once spent their childhood in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do. Her aunt is Na Hye-seok, the first female western painter in Korea, and her brother-in-law is actor Jeong Seung-ho.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1960, Na started her career onstage. In 1961, she debuted as a voice actor in the first public recruitment of MBC. Because of her longing for acting, she changed her job from a voice actor to a talent, and in 1976, she first appeared in a drama in Korea's first omnibus daily soap opera, High School Alumni. Afterwards, she played numerous roles in various works until the early 1990s, but she did not shine as an actor for a long time. It was the KBS daily drama Even the Wind Blows, which was broadcast in 1995, that imprinted the name Na on people.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1941 (1941-11-30): Birth of Na Moon-hee — Iconic South Korean actress known for portraying the 'national mother' figure across decades.
2. 1960: 1960 Milestone — Since 1960, Na has had a prolific acting career in television and film spanning more than five decades.
3. 1961: 1961 Milestone — In 1961, she debuted as a voice actor in the first public recruitment of MBC.
4. 1976: 1976 Milestone — Because of her longing for acting, she changed her job from a voice actor to a talent, and in 1976, she first appeared in a drama in Korea's first omnibus daily soap opera, High School Alumni.
5. 1995: 1995 Milestone — It was the KBS daily drama Even the Wind Blows, which was broadcast in 1995, that imprinted the name Na on people.
6. 2010: 2010 Milestone — She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from MBC in 2010, and the prestigious Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2012.
7. 2017: 2017 Milestone — Her critically acclaimed film I Can Speak (2017) won her the Best Actress trophy in three prestigious award ceremonies: 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards and 55th Grand Bell Awards — a feat that has yet to be repeated.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Na Moon-hee

True or False: “Did Na Moon-hee win Best Actress at three major award ceremonies for her role in I Can Speak (2017)?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): She won the Best Actress trophy at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards, and 55th Grand Bell Awards.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Kuper — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Influential British social anthropologist known for research in Southern Africa.
• Adnan Khayr Allah — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Iraqi military officer and Minister of Defense, closely associated with the Ba'ath regime.
• Alan Mullery — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Iconic English footballer and manager known for his time at Fulham and Spurs.
• Abbie Hoffman — Shared historical date (11-30 · Born) (1936): Iconic American activist, co-founder of the Yippies, and counterculture figure.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Shared historical date (11-30 · Died) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and emotionally engaging style.
• Aldrich Ames — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): American CIA analyst and notorious Soviet spy convicted of espionage.
• Alex Ferguson — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Legendary Scottish football manager, most famous for his unparalleled success with Manchester United.
• Abdel Fattah al-Burhan — Historical peer (Born in 1960) (1960): Sudanese military officer and leader who assumed control of Sudan in 2019.
• Adam Clayton — Historical peer (Born in 1960) (1960): Irish-English bassist and founding member of the globally renowned rock band U2.
• Abdul Halim of Kedah — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): Sultan of Kedah and Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a pivotal Malaysian royal figure.
• 1941 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1941
• November 30 (11-30) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Na Moon-hee