Moon Geun-young returns to variety shows after 7 years

Actress Moon Geun-young is signaling a full-scale return to the spotlight, marking a new chapter in her life with both marriage and her first regular variety show appearance in seven years.

Moon will join the cast of the SBS variety program 'The Ballad of Us' Season 2 as a fixed panelist. Having established herself as a respected actress over a long career, attention is now focused on how she will showcase her charms on this new musical variety stage.

While Moon has been a household name since her debut, her variety show appearances have been relatively rare. Aside from participating in ranking programs during her years as a child actor, her regular variety roles have been few, with notable appearances in educational-style programs such as KBS2's 'Secret and Great Animal Life' and 'The Guys Who Cross the Line: Korean Peninsula Edition' in 2019.

Joining 'The Ballad of Us' Season 2 is particularly significant as it marks her first major return to a fixed variety role in approximately seven years. Following her recent appearance on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block,' where she shared updates on her life, she is now set to connect more closely with viewers through the medium of music.

Anticipation for Moon's participation is high due to her special connection with music. She has consistently shown her affection for K-pop, even publicly cheering for participants in various audition programs. Furthermore, she has demonstrated her musical sensibility by performing several OSTs, including 'I Don't Know Love Yet,' 'Yaraehyang,' and '&Design.'

Moon also drew public attention on the 29th when she announced her marriage to Jeongpyeong, a theater actor seven years her senior. The couple plans to celebrate their new beginning with a private family meal instead of a formal wedding ceremony.

Alongside these personal milestones, Moon is also preparing for her return to acting. She is set to appear in director Yeon Sang Ho's upcoming project 'Yeto,' and will use this variety show appearance to reintroduce her friendly side to the public before her acting comeback.

'The Ballad of Us' proved the massive potential of the music variety genre during its first season, ranking No. 1 in the 2049 viewership rating for all episodes and entering the Netflix Korean Series Top 10. With the addition of Moon and a new lineup of panelists and participants, expectations are high for Season 2 to produce even more emotional moments and new stars.

Returning after a long hiatus, Moon Geun-young's deep sensibility and love for music have many wondering if this variety stage will serve as the launchpad for a new heyday in her career.