Born (1941-11-30) November 30, 1941 (age 84)EducationChangduk Girls’ High School, SeoulOccupationActressYears active1960-presentSpouse [1]Children3Honours Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (2012)Korean nameHangulHanjaRRNa GyeongjaMRNa KyŏngjaStage nameHangulHanjaRRNa MunhuiMRNa Munhŭi Websitethecnt.co.kr/star/namunheeSignature
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),[2][unreliable source?] My Name is Kim Sam-soon, My Rosy Life, Goodbye Solo,[3] Amnok River Flows (based on Der Yalu fließt), and It’s Me, Grandma.[4]
On the big screen, Na has received acclaim for her roles in Crying Fist,[5] You Are My Sunshine, Cruel Winter Blues[6] 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.[7]
After a series of comic roles in sitcoms such as Unstoppable High Kick!,[8] the veteran actress garnered newfound popularity and played the title character in big screen comedy Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K,[9] followed by starring roles in Girl Scout,[10] Harmony,[11][12] Twilight Gangsters,[13] and Miss Granny.[14]
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from MBC in 2010, and the prestigious Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2012.[15][16][17]
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.[18][19]
In 1960, Na Moon-hee 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.[20][21]
It was the KBS daily drama ‘Even the Wind Blows [ko]’, which was broadcast in 1995, that imprinted the name Na on people. She took on the role of a resolute grandmother who spoke a North Korean dialect, and the North Korean dialect acting she learned from a North Korean woman living in the neighborhood was deeply embedded in the minds of Korean viewers. Her presence shined through in her play and she was honored at the KBS Drama Awards, the first trophy of her own acting life. Not only she, but also with the same work, she achieved the feat of sweeping the Popularity Award in the TV category at the 32nd Baeksang Arts Awards and the Female Talent Award at the 23rd Korea Broadcasting Prizes the following year.[20][22]
Afterwards, she gained great popularity by transforming into an authoritative CEO in My Lovely Sam Soon (2005), a nasty mother-in-law in My Rosy Life (2005), and a dancing grandmother in Famous Chil Princesses [ko] (2006). She also acted in films, for her role in the 2005 film Crying Fist, for which she won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 42nd Grand Bell Awards. She later won the 7th Female Filmmaker of the Year Award, the 4th Max Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress Award, the 1st Korea Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress Award, She swept trophies including Best Supporting Actress at the 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards.[22]
In 2006, with the family sitcom Unstoppable High Kick, it was so popular that it would not be an exaggeration to say that 2007 was the year of Na Moon-hee and reached its second heyday. In particular, the so-called ‘pumpkin sweet potato’ anger scene was greatly loved by the younger generation, and is still used as a source of numerous parodies. Even after that, she played the role of Mrs. Kwon Sun-bun who controls the kidnappers in the movie Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K [ko] (2007), played the role of Kim Moon-ok, the oldest inmate with a heartbreaking story in Harmony (2010), and traveled to Hawaii in Flesh-blooded gun robber [ko] (2010). She played the role of Kim Jung-ja, a bank robber who occupies a bank to raise money, and Oh Mal-soon, a swearing 70-year-old grandmother who boasts her son, in Miss Granny (2014), which drew attention with 8.65 million viewers nationwide.
In the 2016 drama Dear My Friends, she performed with veteran actors such as Kim Yeong-ok, Shin Goo, Kim Hye-ja, Go Doo-sim, Yoon Yeo-jeong, and Park Won-sook, and received favorable reviews for showing the life of an old age that draws sympathy from all generations and received a lot of love.[18][23]
In the movie I Can Speak (2017), in which she co-starred with Lee Je-hoon, she took on the role of Ok-bun, who is called ‘goblin grandmother’ among the officials of the ward office due to frequent complaints to the ward office, and took on the historically sensitive subject of ‘comfort women’. was praised for excellent expression in Na Moon-hee’s own way. At the end of the year, she swept the ‘Best Actress Award’ at major awards ceremonies such as The Seoul Awards, Korean Film Critics Association Awards, and Blue Dragon Film Awards, and she was re-evaluated as the best actress of 2017.[24]
She is considered one of the ‘national actors’ and ‘national mothers’ actress loved by Korea both in name and reality, and as a representative role model for actresses.[24]
Na is married and has three daughters.[25]
Year Title Role Notes 1998 The Quiet Family Mrs. Kang 2000 Just Do It! Cameo 2002 My Beautiful Girl, Mari Nam-woo’s grandmother Voice Saving My Hubby 2003 Please Teach Me English Moon-soo’s mother 2004 S Diary Ji-ni’s mother Lovely Rivals Yeo Mi-ok’s mother 2005 Crying Fist Sang-hwan’s grandma You Are My Sunshine Seok-jung’s mother 2006 Cruel Winter Blues Dae-Sik’s mother 2007 Voice of a Murderer Kyung-bae’s mother Cameo May 18 Na Joo-daek Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K Kwon Soon-boon 2008 Girl Scout Lee Yi-man 2010 Harmony Kim Moon-ok Twilight Gangsters Kim Jung-ja 2014 Miss Granny Oh Mal-soon 2017 I Can Speak Na Ok-boon 2018 Love+Sling Gui-bo’s mother 2019 A Little Princess Mal-soon 2020 Honest Candidate Kim Ok-hee [26] Pawn Seungi, grandmother (special appearance) [27] 2022 My Perfect Roommate Geum-bun [28][29] Hero Cho Maria [30][31] 2024 Picnic Eun-shim [32] Year English Korean Network Role Note 1969 Weird Kid 이상한 아이 MBC 1970 Waterwheel 물레방아 1973 In-laws 시댁 1975 Hello 안녕 One’s Way Home 귀로 1976-1977 Girls’ High School Days [ko] 여고 동창생 Bong Ran-yi 1977 One Star or One [ko] 별 하나 나 하나 Children’s drama Correspondent 001 [ko] 특파원 001 Children’s drama Arirang Oh! 아리랑 아! Full-time wife Until the Red Gold is Opened [ko] 빨간 능금이 열릴때까지 I Regret 후회합니다 In-sook 1978 The Master 주인 X Search Party X 수색대 Children’s drama 1979 White Dandelion [ko] 하얀 민들레 Mom, I Like Dad [ko] 엄마, 아빠 좋아 Ms. Anguk-dong [ko] 안국동 아씨 1980 Power Diary [ko] 전원일기 Multiple roles A minor role Hundred Years Guest [ko] 백년손님 1981 Jang Hee-bin [ko] 장희빈 Queen Myeongseong Big dramas Hello 안녕하세요 1982 Market People 시장 사람들 Can’t Forget 못 잊어 1983 The Stars are My Stars [ko] 저 별은 나의 별 1984-1985 Love and Truth 사랑과 진실 Mrs. President 1985 The Seaside Village 갯마을 1986 First Love 첫사랑 Raw Hand 생인손 Yeon-ju The special play of the two-part 8.15 1987 Firebird 불새 Life Story 인생화보 1988 Three Women 세 여인 1989 Making Memories 추억 만들기 Miscarriage 유산 Mrs.Oh Second Republic 제2공화국 Kwon Chan -ju 1990 Dangchu-dong People [ko] 당추동 사람들 KBS2 Two Diaries 두 권의 일기 MBC Principal teacher Weird Family Weird School [ko] 별난가족 별난학교 Children’s drama My Mother 나의 어머니 1991 Another’s Happiness 또 하나의 행복 City People 도시인 1993 On Foot to the Sky [ko] 걸어서 하늘까지 Yeon-su Mo Hope 희망 KBS2 Dear Guitars 친애하는 기타 여러분 SBS suwondaeg MBC Best Theater:“Sundal, Byeong-gu and Okju-yang” MBC 베스트극장: 순달씨와 병구씨와 옥주양 MBC Ms. oh One-act play One Roof Family [ko] 한지붕 세가족 An aunt 1994 The Moon of Seoul [ko] 서울의 달 Grandma of the owner’s house in Dal-dong 1995 New Year’s Special Drama:“Relationship is” 인연이란 KBS2 Mrs. So One-act play Changsha Special Drama:“Chanshangdanja” 창사특집극 – 찬품단자 MBC choegosang-gung One-act play 1995-1996 Even if the Wind Blows 바람은 불어도 KBS1 grandmother 1996 MBC Best Theatre:“Mom and the Gardenia” MBC 베스트극장: 엄마와 치자꽃 MBC Ha Yi-sun One-act play Thief 도둑 SBS The priest’s sister-in-law Mom’s Flag 엄마의 깃발 Jeongsuk Mo Open Your Heart 가슴을 열어라 MBC Ha Yi-sun The Most Beautiful Goodbye 세상에서 가장 아름다운 이별 Mama One-act play 1996-1997 Im Kkeok-jung [ko] 임꺽정 SBS 봉단 모 1997 Brothers 형제 KBS1 병천댁 One-act play Because I Love You 사랑하니까 SBS 장모 The Reason I Live 내가 사는 이유 MBC Kim Sook-ja 1998 As We Live Our Lives 살다보면 KBS1 Lee Gan-nan Three Men and Three Women 남자 셋 여자 셋 MBC Kim Yong-Rim’s high school alumni Special appearance Romance 로맨스 SBS 강 여사 1999 House Above the Waves 파도위의 집 Beautiful Secret 아름다운 비밀 KBS2 유민 모 One-act play Last War 마지막 전쟁 MBC Did We Really Love? 우리가 정말 사랑했을까 Sin Sin-ja You Don’t Know My Mind 남의 속도 모르고 Na Do-ja 2000 Mr. Duke 신 귀공자 Mom and Sister 엄마야 누나야 서씨 2001 MBC Best Theater:“My Fiancee’s Story” MBC 베스트극장: 내 약혼녀 이야기 One-act play Tender Hearts 우리가 남인가요 KBS1 Ohbunhee 2001-2002 The Merchant 상도 2002 The Woman 상도 MBC 임상옥 모, 한씨 You Are My World 그 여자 사람잡네 SBS Bong Soon Drama City:“A Very Special Gift” 드라마시티: 아주 특별한 선물 KBS2 A grandmother One-act play 2002-2003 The Maengs’ Golden Era 맹가네 전성시대 MBC 금자 모 2003 While You Were Dreaming 그대 아직도 꿈꾸고 있는가 Mrs. Hwang 2003-2004 Apgujeong House 압구정 종갓집 SBS Na Moon-hee 2004 Love is All Around 물꽃마을 사람들 MBC Shin Young-ja Dog Bowl 설날특집극 – 개밥그릇 SBS Oksoon People of the Water Flower Village 사랑을 할거야 MBC 윤 여사 Changsa Special Drama:“We Become Water” 창사특집극: 우리가 물이 되어 Insoon 2004-2005 Precious Family 부모님전상서 KBS2 창수 모 2006 My Lovely Sam Soon 내 이름은 김삼순 MBC Na Hyun-sook My Rosy Life 장밋빛 인생 KBS2 Kang-tip-soon 2006 Goodbye Solo 굿바이 솔로 Grandma Miyoung Famous Chil Princesses 소문난 칠공주 Namdal-gu High Kick! 거침없이 하이킥! MBC Na Moon-hee 2007 Several Questions That Make Us Happy 우리를 행복하게 하는 몇 가지 질문]] KBS2 Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung-geum 천하일색 박정금 Yoon Myung-ja Worlds Within 그들이 사는 세상 KBS2 Geomo Amnok River Flows 압록강은 흐른다 SBS Mireuk Mo 2007-2008 Kimcheed Radish Cubes 깍두기 MBC 나달래 2008-2009 My Precious You 내 사랑 금지옥엽 KBS2 Mrs. Song In-soon 2010 Happiness in the Wind 바람불어 좋은 날 KBS1 나끝순 MBC Best Theater:“It’s Me, Grandma’ MBC 일요 드라마 극장: 나야, 할머니 MBC Jiyoon’s grandmother A one-act play 2011 I Believe in Love 사랑을 믿어요 KBS2 차귀남 2011-2012 Padam Padam 빠담빠담… 그와 그녀의 심장박동소리 JTBC Yang Kang Chil Mo 2012 Five Fingers 다섯 손가락 SBS Minbanwol The Sons 아들녀석들 MBC Jung Jung-sook [33] Mom is Acting Up 엄마가 뭐길래 Na Moon-hee 2013 Wang’s Family 왕가네 식구들 KBS2 Ahn G-shim 2014 Glorious Day 기분 좋은 날 SBS Lee Sun-ok 2015 The Three Witches 마녀의 성 Cheon Geum-ok 2016 Dear My Friends 디어 마이 프렌즈 tvN Moon Jung-ah Father, I’ll Take Care of You 아버님 제가 모실게요 MBC Hwang Mi-ok 2017 Rain or Shine 그냥 사랑하는 사이 JTBC Drug staker grandma [34] 2021 Navillera 나빌레라 tvN Haenam Taxi Driver 모범택시 SBS TBA I Am Home 아임홈 Hong Jeong-hee Web series appearance Year Title Role Notes Ref. English Korean 2025 When Life Gives You Tangerines 폭싹 속았수다 Grandma Netflix Series [35] Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2022 Attack on Grandma Host The production is in full pre-air. [36] Hot Singers Cast Member [37] 2022-present One Round of the Neighborhood Narrator Season 2 [38] List of Stage Play(s) Year Title Role Theater Date Ref. English Korean 1965 Look Homeward, Angel 천사여 고향을 돌아보라 National Theater of Korea (Myeongdong) Nov 30-Dec 3 [39] 1992 Family on the road 길떠나는 가족 Batangol Small Theater in Seoul July 1-August [40] Grand Theater of the Cultural Arts Center, Hyundai October 1 to 6 [41] 1996 Mother 어머니 Thelma Grand Theater of Dongsoong Art Center May 18 to June 23 [42] 1998 Sinpaguk The Unfilial Man Cries 신파극 불효자는 웁니다 Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul January 10 18 [43] 2008 ‘night, Mother 잘자요, 엄마 Thelma Wonder Space Square Theater November 2-29 [25][44] 2015 ‘night, Mother 잘자요 엄마 Thelma Art One Theater July 3-August 30 [45] Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1973 9th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popularity Award (Theater) —N/a Won 1976 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Radio Performance —N/a Won 1983 Excellence Award, Actress The Stars Are My Stars Won 1995 KBS Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Even if the Wind Blows Won 1996 32nd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (TV) Nominated Most Popular Actress Won 23rd Korea Broadcasting Prizes Korea Broadcasting Prizes Talent Won 1997 33rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (TV) The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World Nominated 2002 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a One-Act Special You Are My World Won 2005 42nd Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress Crying Fist Won 4th Korean Film Awards Nominated You Are My Sunshine Nominated 6th Busan Film Critics Awards Won 13th Chunsa Film Art Awards Nominated 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated 2006 43rd Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated 2006 KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Goodbye Solo, Famous Princesses Nominated 7th Women in Film Korea Awards[46] Best Actress Cruel Winter Blues Won 2007 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress Nominated 4th Max Movie Awards Best Supporting Actress Won 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards[47] Best Supporting Actress Won 1st Korea Movie Star Awards Best Supporting Actress May 18 Won MBC Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Comedy/Sitcom Unstoppable High Kick! Won 2008 2nd Korea Drama Awards Achievement Award —N/a Nominated 2010 31st Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Harmony Nominated 2010 MBC Drama Awards Lifetime Achievement Award It’s Me, Grandma Won 2011 6th Seoul International Drama Awards[48] Best Actress Won 2012 Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit —N/a —N/a Recipient 2014 14th Korea World Youth Film Festival Favorite Actress – Senior Actress —N/a Won 2015 10th Max Movie Awards Best Supporting Actress Miss Granny Won 2017 18th Women in Film Korea Awards Woman in Film of the Year I Can Speak Won 6th Korea Film Actors Association Awards[49] Top Star Awards Won 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Leading Actress Won Popular Star Award Won 11th Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Actress Nominated 1st The Seoul Awards[50] Best Actress Won 37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards[51] Won 17th Director’s Cut Awards Won 4th Korean Film Producers Association Awards Won Cine 21 Awards Won 2018 9th KOFRA Film Awards Won 55th Grand Bell Awards[52] Won 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards[53] Nominated 27th Buil Film Awards[54] Nominated 54th Baeksang Arts Awards[55] Best Actress Won 2022 30th Korea Culture Entertainment Awards [ko][56] Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards Na Moon-hee Won 2023 32nd Buil Film Awards[57] Best Supporting Actress Hero Nominated 59th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress[58] Nominated List of State Honour(s) State Award Ceremony Year Honor Ref. South Korea Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[note 1] 2012 Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (3rd class) [59] Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year List Placement Ref. KBS 2023 The 50 people who made KBS shine 28th [60][61][62]
- Official website (in Korean)
- Na Moon-hee at HanCinema
- Na Moon-hee at the Korean Movie Database
- Na Moon-hee at IMDb
