Moon Ga-young, Star of Upcoming tvN Drama "Whale Star," Wins Asia Wide Award in a Bold New Look

Actor Moon Ga-young, 30, who is due to appear in the tvN drama "Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid" in 2027, took home the Asia Wide Award on the 7th at the 2026 Marie Claire Asia Star Awards, held during the Busan International Film Festival. She collected the trophy in a look markedly different from her usual image.

Sharper eye makeup gave her a larger, more defined impression, and she paired it with bangs swept to both sides, the style known as "sesame-leaf hair." The small styling change altered how her face came across. She did not stay with her familiar innocent image, and the source notes that she has shown different faces depending on her roles while steadily expanding her own style at public appearances. At this ceremony, too, she used makeup and hairstyle to create a mood different from her usual one, showing her side as a fashion icon.

A prize for performers beyond Asia

The ceremony was organized jointly by the global fashion magazine Marie Claire and the Busan International Film Festival. The award goes to an actor who has been active on the world stage beyond Asia.

In her acceptance speech, Moon thanked the people around her. "I am happy and grateful to receive such a meaningful award. This year feels like one in which I am receiving an especially large amount of love and attention," she said. She went on: "More than the result of any one moment, the people who walked this road with me come to mind first." She also spoke of the road ahead: "I will keep agonizing over acting intensely and move forward without hesitation."

From a hit film to a period romance

Beyond acting, Moon is widening her range as a global ambassador for various brands. In the film "Once We Were Us," released last December, she played Han Jeong-won and drew praise for delicately expressing the emotions of a realistic romance. Her acting skills built through her work and the sense of style she shows in fashion are broadening her points of contact with the public.

"Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid" is based on a Naver webtoon of the same name and is set in Keijō in 1926. The story begins when Heo Su-a, a maid in a pro-Japanese collaborator's household, rescues the independence activist Kang Ui-hyeon after he falls into the sea. The drama portrays young people's love and devotion to their homeland in a turbulent era. Moon plays Heo Su-a, and expectations are building for the period romance she will present with Choi Woo-shik. Attention is now turning to what Moon will look like when she returns in the drama, having shown both a willingness to try new images and passion for her work.

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