On the 18th, Moon Geun-young shared a heartwarming update, saying, “The Team Ghost friends I met after five years have gone from being in their 20s to now their 30s. Though our situations and positions have changed a lot, they are still my precious friends, just like they were five years ago. You guys are like a gift to me, both then and now! Thank you so much for spending time with me. #NextTimeItsOnMe #WaitForIt #Day3349.” Along with this message, she posted several photos.
The photos showed Moon Geun-young taking photo booth pictures with her close friends after a long time apart. Dressed casually, she spent time with her friends, and even without makeup, her sharp and distinct facial features stood out.
Particularly noticeable was her slimmer face and reduced puffiness, which drew attention, especially following the recent revelation that Moon Geun-young had been battling compartment syndrome. Despite her health struggles, she continues to maintain visuals that are reminiscent of her prime days.
In February 2017, Moon Geun-young suddenly experienced severe pain in her right arm. She was diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome and underwent four surgeries. Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency where blood flow to the muscles and nerves is restricted due to increased pressure within a compartment, causing extreme pain and possible paralysis. If not treated in time, it can lead to muscle and nerve necrosis.
Following her diagnosis, Moon Geun-young underwent four surgeries and spent about a month focusing on recovery. After regaining her health, she returned to acting, appearing healthy in her subsequent projects. However, when she wore short sleeves at public events, the scars from her surgeries were visible, reminding others of the pain she had endured.
Moon Geun-young’s comeback took place with the 2021 KBS Drama Special “Abyss”. She will soon appear in “Hellbound 2“, where she plays the character “Sunshine Class Teacher”, who is a key figure in the fanatical Arrowhead group. Her character spreads misguided beliefs, further throwing the world into chaos.
Styled in all black, Moon Geun-young appeared for a photo session looking slightly fuller than before. Throughout the event, she maintained a bright expression and took the microphone, saying, “I’ve always wanted to work with Director Yeon Sang-ho. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity, and I had so much fun filming, especially getting to challenge myself with a new character.” MC Park Kyung-lim commented “Moon Geun-young’s eyes are sparkling” as she introduced the excited actress.
Regarding her character “Sunshine Class Teacher”, Moon Geun-young explained, “She was just an ordinary person but got deeply involved in a religion, rising to a position where she fervently preaches fanaticism. It’s my most dramatic transformation since my debut. I wore so much makeup and did so many changes that even I barely recognize myself.” She smilingly added, “It’s Moon Geun-young from ‘Stairway to Heaven’.”
Moon Geun-young further shared, “I’ve always had a passion and curiosity for new roles. Since opportunities don’t always come as I’d like, I often felt hungry for more. Then Director Yeon offered me this incredibly attractive character, and I felt so excited, like a fish in water, ready to have fun and do my best on set.”
There were humorous incidents on set due to her dramatic transformation. Since some scenes required a stunt double, her double also had to be heavily made up, which led to confusion over who was who. At one point, staff didn’t even recognize Moon Geun-young, causing quite a bit of laughter.
Despite many fans’ concerns about her health, Moon Geun-young personally addressed the issue. Though she didn’t talk about it during the press conference, she later shared on social media, “Many people seem to be worried about my health, but I am completely recovered, and I’m in great shape now.” She added, “Although I’ve gained a little weight, I’m currently on a diet, so please root for my diet success rather than worrying about my health.”
With her health restored and her daring transformation a success, the nation’s “little sister” Moon Geun-young is ready to make her return. “Hellbound 2”, featuring her role, will be released on Netflix on October 25th.
Source: Daum