MUN KA YOUNG Stays True To Herself

The German-born South Korean actress finds creative catharsis in putting on the mask of her character, but deep down inside, she’s ultimately committed to being her true self.

- FARISIA THANG

Not many people can say that they’ve been in front of the camera since they were 10 years old.

But Mun Ka Young can.

It started when the actress moved back to South Korea from Germany when she was a child. “My family submitted my photo for an advertisement in the newspaper for a model and I was very lucky to [get the job].” Shortly after, in 2006, she began acting.

And while this could have very well just been a temporary stint or a memorable experience in her early years, she ended up forging a successful career as an actress. At a young age, she learned skills like “quick wits, and how to communicate in a social and group setting”. But she considers the most fortunate thing she learned was: “I found out a little faster about what I like to do and what I’m good at.”

And that, of course, was acting. “It is something I have done since I was very young and it is as routine to me as breathing.” It’s as instinctive as it is routine, and the truth of the matter is that Mun has never considered any other career. Since she was a child, she was able to suppress her emotions well. But when she acts — “There is an inexplicable freedom when you put on the mask of your character.” The catharsis that comes from the creative process draws her to the craft. “You can be angry when you want to, express yourself, and most of all, the fact that a rehearsal exists, unlike in real life, is the biggest charm of my work.” It’s not often that an actor speaks about the appeal of the craft the way that Mun does, but it’s clear that her reverence and regard for the work is what grounds her.