Mun Ka-Young Shares Her Favorite Scene In ‘My Dearest Nemesis'

Forbes

27-03-2025

Choi Hyun-wook and Mun Ka-young play characters who met in a role playing game.
My Dearest Nemesis, the k-rom-com about former gamers who meet again in the corporate world, continued to intrigue viewers after its successful debut. Four weeks later, My Dearest Nemesis, still held the number one spot on the global OTT platform Rakuten Viki, topping the charts in 109 countries. The reason for its success may be simple, said actress Mun Ka-young. Mun plays Baek Soo-jung, the drama's hard-working corporate team leader, who unwittingly falls for her former gaming ally and disappointing first love.
'I think the drama was an easy and enjoyable watch,' said Mun. 'There were no heavy emotional burdens or intense conflicts—just a fun, lighthearted story that people could relax and laugh along with. The drama also touched on universally relatable hobbies and nostalgic memories, which I believe contributed to its appeal.'
Mun's character first meets Ban Ju-yeon, played by Choi Hyun-wook, when she stands in for her younger brother in a role playing game. Her character Strawberry falls for her fellow player Black Dragon, but when they meet in real life she has reasons to reject him. Years later they meet again, but he's changed so much she doesn't recognize him. As the son of her company's chairwoman, he's secretive about playing games and everything else he really enjoys. She may dislike him at first, but Strawberry and Black Dragon were destined to fall in love. Mun's favorite scene in the drama was a romantic one.
'One of the most memorable scenes for me is the ending of Episode Seven,' said Mun. 'It takes place in a beautiful square with a grand fountain display—Soo-jung finally hears Ju-yeon's true feelings and confesses her own, leading to a romantic kiss. The directing, lighting, and even the soundtrack in the final broadcast all came together perfectly, thanks to the dedication of our entire crew. That scene truly left an impression on me.'
Despite initial reservations, the characters Black Dragon and Strawberry are destined to fall in ... More love.
Mun began modeling when she was 9 and within a year had debuted in the film Bloody Reunion. She's best known for her roles in dramas such as Tempted, Welcome to Wakiki, Find Me In Your Memory, True Beauty, Eat, Love, Kill and The Interest of Love. She can't imagine a life without acting.
'I've been acting since I was very young, so I've never really dreamed of doing anything else,' she said. 'Acting is challenging, and there's no right answer. However, through acting, I've started to develop an interest in directing and writing scripts.'
Her polished comedy timing is evident in both My Dearest Nemesis and the popular 2021 drama True Beauty. In True Beauty she plays a high school student who hides her insecurities behind heavy applications of make-up. Although she's perhaps best known internationally for her rom-com roles, she's not necessarily always drawn to them.
'Rather than being drawn specifically to rom-coms, I am more attracted to strong, independent characters," said Mun. "If a project carries a meaningful message and it's something I feel confident introducing to the audience, I take on the challenge. Love stories, after all, have the power to encapsulate the entirety of our lives. I'm excited to see what kind of projects I will choose in the future—I'm curious to find out which stories will capture my heart next.'
What she loves most about acting is that, unlike real life, acting allows for rehearsals.
'And I love that it offers endless opportunities to experience different lives—new professions, new characters, and new worlds," said Mun. "The constant changes keep me excited and on my toes. No matter how tough things get, I always find comfort in knowing that I have studied acting. It's probably the only profession where that kind of justification makes sense.'
All of the characters she plays hold a place in her heart.
'I often find myself thinking about The Interest of Love's Ahn Soo-young," said Mun. "She's a strong yet emotionally complex character and I wonder how she's doing from time to time."
Viewers will next see Mun in the drama Seochodong, with co-stars Lee Jong-suk, Kang You-suk, Ryu Hye-young and Im Seong-jae. The CJ ENM drama is scheduled to premiere in the first half of 2025.
'Seochodong is a legal office drama set in Seochodong, a district in Korea known for its concentration of law firms,' said Mun. 'The story follows associate attorneys who work at different firms within the same building.'
Mun will play Kang Hee-ji, an idealistic first-year associate attorney.
'As a newly minted lawyer, Hee-ji strongly believes that changing one person's life can change the world," said Mun. "And she dreams of becoming a lawyer who truly helps people. I also have a movie set to be released in Korea soon. Knowing that I'll be connecting with audiences through various projects makes me very excited for the rest of 2025.'
My Dearest Nemesis is based on a webtoon of the same name written by Hye Jin-yang. It's directed by Lee Soo-hyun, who directed Delightfully Deceitful, and was adapted by Kim Soo-yeon. The drama was produced by Studio N and planned by Studio Dragon. In the U.S it airs on Viki.com.