Moon Geun-young's transformation in 'Hellbound 2' stuns viewers

Actor Moon portrays a kindergarten teacher spiraling into cultic mania in "Hellbound" Season 2. Courtesy of Netflix, Culturecap Media.

The release of "Hellbound" Season 2 on Netflix on Friday sparked a wave of social media posts suggesting that Moon Geun-young’s role marks a new era for “crazy female characters” in Korean dramas.

Formerly known as the “nation’s little sister,” Moon shocked fans with her radical transformation into a fanatical cult leader in the new season.

“The era of ‘crazy female characters’ in Korean dramas can be divided into before and after Moon Geun-young,” tweeted user @nmf***.

In one of the episodes, Moon takes the stage in a hauntingly captivating look, her face painted blood red and dressed in a hanbok outfit (traditional Korean clothing). She calls out to the mesmerized crowd, “Will you join me?” Adorned with feather-like white eyebrows, reminiscent of an ancient sage, her lips painted black.

Her makeup was so haunting that viewers struggled to recognize her, with one user commenting, “I only realized it was Moon Geun-young after hearing her voice.”

Moon Geun-young in "Hellbound" Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix

Bong Joon-ho praises transformation

Moon plays Oh Ji-won, a kindergarten teacher who descends into cultic mania. Eyes glinting with fanaticism, she raises a charred arm at a supernatural death ritual, proclaiming with a smile, “God has forgiven my sins.”

Director Bong Joon-ho, who attended a fan event for "Hellbound" Season 2 in Seoul, Saturday, praised her transformation, comparing it to “seeing John Travolta unexpectedly dance the twist in Pulp Fiction,” describing it as “one of those unforgettable moments where an actor shows something completely unexpected.”

Many commended Moon for boldly breaking free from her long-standing “sisterly” image.

Moon is credited as a “special appearance” in the end credits of Season 2, and although her screen time is brief, her impact is profound.

The season delves into a fictional society overtaken by terror due to a cult preaching “divine justice,” amid chaos fueled by mob violence and an ineffective government. Through her role, Moon vividly portrays the perilous transformation of an ordinary citizen swept into a cult, underscoring the series’ theme.

Moon Geun-young in "Autumn in My Heart," "Painter of the Wind" and "The Throne" / Courtesy of KBS, SBS, and Showbox

Moving past innocent image

Moon made her debut as Song Hye-kyo’s younger self in the 2000 drama "Autumn in My Heart." From the 2004 film "My Little Bride" to the 2008 drama "Painter of the Wind," she spent years in “pure and innocent girl” roles.

As an adult, she took on the tender role of Lady Hyegyeong in the 2015 film "The Throne," known for her heartbreaking portrayal of maternal love.

Moon, who has rarely taken on “rebellious” roles, was cast in "Hellbound" by director Yeon Sang-ho, after he saw her in the 2021 KBS short drama "Abyss," where she played a woman who becomes an alcoholic while caring for her alcoholic husband.

Yeon admitted that he was initially worried, wondering, “What if Moon Geun-young doesn’t suit the role of a kindergarten teacher-turned-fanatic?” but was “amazed by her overwhelming dedication on set.”

In 2017, Moon underwent four surgeries on her right arm due to compartment syndrome, which causes muscle and nerve damage. After rehabilitation, she accepted the role of Oh Ji-won in "Hellbound" Season 2, embracing the challenge.

Moon said, “I always dreamed of taking on new characters, but I didn’t often get the chance, so I was constantly hungry as an actor. I was thrilled to get this opportunity and had so much fun filming.”

Released three years after the original 2021 season, Season 2 faced major production adjustments after Yoo Ah-in, who portrayed New Truth Society leader Jung Jin-soo in Season 1, was removed due to ongoing drug allegations.

Actor Kim Sung-cheol took over the role. Writer Choi Kyu-seok said, “I wanted to depict ‘Hell’ not as a physical disaster but as an ideological one.” "Hellbound" Season 2 topped Netflix’s series rankings in Korea, Vietnam and Singapore as of Monday.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.