'Nation's Ex-Girlfriend' Moon Ga-young Moves 2 Million Audiences to Laugh and Cry with 'What If'

The film 〈What If〉, starring actress Moon Ga-young, has surpassed 2 million cumulative viewers, setting a new milestone in the Korean melodrama industry. This is the highest achievement in the melodrama genre in 7 years since the hit film 〈The Most Ordinary Love〉, marking a significant start for the Korean film market in 2026.

Even in its fifth week of release, this film continues to maintain a steady box office flow, driven by its relatable narrative and the outstanding performances of the lead actors, which have generated positive word of mouth and placed it on a long-term box office trajectory.

Return to the Screen After 9 Years... Moon Ga-young's Perfect Performance as 'Jung-won'

After about 9 years since her childhood acting days, Moon Ga-young returns to the screen in this film, taking on the role of the protagonist 'Jung-won' and showcasing her accumulated acting skills without reservation. Expanding her strengths as a 'melodrama-specialized actress' proven in dramas like 〈Understanding of Love〉, 〈The Man's Memory〉, and 〈Seocho-dong〉, she captured the hearts of the audience.

In particular, Moon Ga-young convincingly portrayed the character's growth and psychological changes through subtle emotional acting and external transformations. From the glamorous smoky makeup of her twenties to her bare-faced simplicity after the passage of time, she meticulously depicted the changing temperature of love with unexaggerated expressions and gazes.

Becoming the 'Nation's Ex-Girlfriend'... A Relatable Melodrama That Resonates Across Generations

The film's ability to evoke empathy across generations is rooted in Moon Ga-young's 'realistic and relatable' acting. Audiences reminisced about their past loves through her performance or recalled their own past as someone who was 'Jung-won', feeling a deep resonance. This passionate response naturally bestowed upon Moon Ga-young the new title of 'Nation's Ex-Girlfriend'.

Industry insiders analyzed, "Moon Ga-young has proven herself to be an irreplaceable lead actress on screen, achieving both box office success and critical acclaim in the first film she chose as an adult." As Moon Ga-young successfully opened the doors to the theater in 2026, the film industry is focused on what her future screen endeavors will be.