Mun Ka-young is one of Korea’s most devoted celebrity readers -- an actor whose love of books led her to become an author. She describes herself as “a person who acts, reads and writes.”
Born in 1996 in Germany, where she spent her early childhood, Mun returned to South Korea around the age of 10 and began acting almost immediately. She made her film debut in horror movie "Bloody Reunion" (2006). After starring in hit drama series including "True Beauty," "The Interest of Love" and "My Dearest Nemesis," she recently starred in poignant romance film "Once We Were Us," a story of young love and heartbreak.
Though she has spent nearly two decades moving at a relentless pace as a leading actor, she has also been quietly cultivating a parallel life that feels just as central: that of a devoted reader.
In the midst of filming, reading slows. But in quieter stretches, Mun finishes a book about every week or two. She loves going to bookstores and browsing the shelves to see what new titles have arrived.
Over the years, she has spoken often about her reading style on TV and in interviews, describing reading as habit -- something learned early and absorbed deeply.
Growing up, her father, a physicist, and her older sister were avid readers, and books became the family’s common language. Family gatherings turned into conversations about what everyone was reading. Mun has shared one of the handwritten notes her father would sometimes leave for her: “A good heart comes from reading good books. Let’s laugh a lot today, too.”
“Books are a shelter for me,” the actor has said. “When my thoughts grow crowded, when stress or melancholy sets in, I turn to reading.” Often, she says, the answers she needs surface somewhere in the pages.
Drawn to philosophy
Mun gravitates toward philosophy and always makes a point of visiting that section of a bookstore.
One of her most cherished works is Dante’s "The Divine Comedy." She first became curious about it after noticing how frequently Dante’s framework of the seven deadly sins appears in popular culture, including Brad Pitt crime thriller "Se7en."
When she eventually read the epic poem, she found it demanding, but deeply rewarding. “It was much richer than what I already knew or imagined,” she said, adding that the book satisfied her intellectual curiosity and stirred her imagination.
Another book she frequently recommends is "Meditations" by Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius. The series of personal writings composed between 161 and 180 records private reflections and ideas on Stoic philosophy.
"Its short, fragmentary passages make it accessible even to readers short on time," said Mun. "One can open it at any page and begin."
She finds it grounding, and is especially drawn to a line she returns to often: "Receive without pride; let go without hesitation." She suggests the book to anyone in need of calm or quiet consolation.
Reader to writer
In 2024, Mun debuted as an author with her first essay collection, "Pata." The title comes from her own phrase: “Let’s call the self I was in my less courageous days ‘Pata.’”
Mun has said that she spent much of her childhood and adolescence “between letters,” and that whenever the urge to write arose, she filled notebooks instinctively. Those notebooks would later become the seed of her prose collection.
Introducing the book, Mun explained that, like "Meditations," it is structured so readers can open it anywhere, with subsections numbered rather than titled. While writing, she kept track of the songs she listened to most frequently and later compiled them into a playlist shared through the publisher’s channel.
The collection of essays has also been published in translation in Taiwan and Indonesia.
Reading habits and tips
Over the years, Mun has shared her own approach to reading.
First, she keeps a reading notebook to write things down so they do not slip away. If a book does not resonate, she simply closes it without guilt and moves on. “Once you’re blocked, it’s hard to finish,” she says. Choosing a book that matches her state of mind matters more than finishing everything.
She does not write in her books, preferring to keep them physically clean. Instead, she collects lines that stay with her in her notebook, or, when she is filming, on her phone.
When it comes to keeping the notebook itself, she leaves room to return. She writes on only one side of each page, leaving the opposite side blank in case she returns to the same book later and wants to add new thoughts.
Celeb Reads explores how K-pop stars, actors and other public figures are reshaping the publishing world through heartfelt book recommendations that revive forgotten titles and create new bestsellers. The series highlights the books that shaped them — and may shape your next read. — Ed.
