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Moon Sung-keun

Moon Sung-keun

Actor · Born May 28, 1953 (73) · Tokyo, Japan

Moon Sung-keun (Korean: 문성근; 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. 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. 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. Moon made his film debut in 1990 with Black Republic directed by Park Kwang-su. 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 the Democratic United Party's temporary chairman in 2012. 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." Moon is a frequent collaborator of director Lee Chang-dong. He has starred in four of Lee's films, including critically acclaimed Burning (2018).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 28, 1953 (73)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 65 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 76% in 30 days

What are Moon Sung-keun's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
25%
Bonds
20%
Morality
20%
Survival
19%
Society
9%
Ideas
5%
Power
2%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 0 · Dark 9

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 7

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Mentor
1 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Melancholic
8
Contemplative
6
Dread
4
Warm
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Moon Sung-keun's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Moon Sung-keun's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

65 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ms. Incognito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 12 episodes · as Ga Seong-ho

  • Virus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Professor Seong

  • Project Silence(2023)

    as Byeong-hak

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Connection(2024)

    Show 14 episodes · as Won Chang-ho

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Marry My Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 16 episodes · as Yoo Han-il

  • Moving(2023)

    Show 21 episodes · as Min Yong-jun

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Insider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 16 episodes · as Do Won Bong [Seongju Prison inmate]

  • Dr. Brain(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Myung

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 12 episodes · as Kyung Pil

  • Nobody Knows(2020)

    Show 16 episodes · as Hwang In-bum

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Black Money(2019)

    as Kang Ki-chun

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Cross of North Gando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Narrator

  • Vagabond(2019)

    Show 16 episodes · as Hong Sun-jo

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Encounter(2018)

    Show 16 episodes · as Congressman Cha Jong-hyeon

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Life(2018)

    Show 16 episodes · as Kim Tae-Sang

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Burning(2018)

    as Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • 1987: When the Day Comes(2017)

    as Jang Se-dong

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Forgotten(2017)

    as Jin-seok's Father / Mr. Park

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Distorted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 32 episodes · as Koo Tae-Won

  • The Tooth and the Nail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Yun Young-hwan

  • On the Beach at Night Alone(2017)

    as Sangwon

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet(2016)

    as Jung Ji-yong

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Memories of the Sword(2015)

    as Lee Eui-myeong

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Sea Fog(2014)

    as Wan-ho

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • A Girl at My Door(2014)

    as Chief Nam Kyeong-dae

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Hwayi: A Monster Boy(2013)

    as CEO Jeon

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • National Security (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as President Yoon

  • In Another Country(2012)

    as Moonsoo

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Unbowed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Shin Jae-yeol

  • Oki's Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Professor Song

  • A Little Pond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Mr. Moon

  • Lost in the Mountains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Jeon Sang-ok

  • A Brand New Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Doctor

  • If You Were Me 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Vice Principal (segment "Relay")

  • Missing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Pan-gon

  • Ja Myung Go(2009)

    Show 39 episodes · as King Daemusin

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • 신의 길 인간의 길 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Public Enemy Returns(2008)

    as Tae-san

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Soo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Gu Yang-Won

  • Puzzle(2006)

    as Hwan

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Woman on the Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as CEO Jeong (voice)

  • Hanbando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Kwon Yong-hwan

  • Princess Aurora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Oh Sung-ho

  • Jealousy Is My Middle Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Han Yun-sik

  • Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors(2000)

    as Young-soo

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • www.whitelover.com (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Bedroom And Courtroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Choo Hyung-Do

  • A Killing Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Green Fish(1997)

    as Bae Tae-gon

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • A Petal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Mr. Jang

  • A Single Spark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Young-soo

  • No Exit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Sunset on the Neon Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Kim Kyoo-hwan

  • Bitter and Sweet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • To You, from Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Me

  • Out to the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Joo-dong

  • To the Starry Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Moon Dok-bae / Moon Chae-ku

  • The 101st Proposition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Young-sub

  • Marriage Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • I Want to Live Just Until I'm 20 Years Old (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Choi Hyeon-jun

  • The Road to the Racetrack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as R

  • Berlin Report (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Young-cheol

  • Black Republic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Kim Ki-young

  • Our Class Accepts Anyone Regardless of Grade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 65 titles from 1990 to 2025; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

1987: When the Day Comes (2017)

$54M worldwide

Highest rated

1987: When the Day Comes (2017)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Burning (2018)

Film career

19902025

Peak 2018 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1996Screen debut· A Petal
  • 2017Career best· Forgotten

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 65: 65 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score78th

By decade

1990s18 · acting2000s16 · acting2010s21 · acting2020s10 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 23 roles
961116

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Moon Sung-keun's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th4

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016)

64th percentile spread · 14% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Moving (2023)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 78/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 54. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Moon Sung-keun's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Moon Sung-keun work with?

People who share at least 2 of Moon Sung-keun's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hong Sang-soo shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers