Actress Moon Ga Young’s New Romance Movie Slammed Over Yet Another Baffling Age-Gap Co-Star Pairing

“When will this stop?”

Following the release of the official trailer for Once We Were Us, starring actors Moon Ga Young and Koo Kyo Hwan as exes, K-Moviegoers are expressing discontent over yet another “miscasting,” citing the co-stars’ 14-year age gap as the problem.

“Once We Were Us” | Google

In the movie, 29-year-old Moon Ga Young (born 1996) and 42-year-old Koo Kyo Hwan (born 1982) play Jung Won and Lee Eun Ho, respectively, characters who are meant to be around the same age.

| @SHOWBOXmovie/YouTube

| @SHOWBOXmovie/YouTube

Based on the character setting and visuals presented in the trailer, however, viewers are now completely unimpressed with the casting.

| @SHOWBOXmovie/YouTube

An unbalanced “age gap,” or the real-life age difference between the two leads (especially romantic leads), has become a significant issue over the years—with male leads often being deemed too old to be paired with the female leads.

Lim Ji Yeon’s 17-Year Age Gap With New K-Drama Lead Leaves Netizens Grossed Out

Viewers argue that the 14-year age difference between Moon Ga Young and Koo Kyo Hwan is “clearly visible,” bound to make the movie less convincing and therefore less successful.

| theqoo

• “This really pisses me off.”
• “Koo Kyo Hwan does look young for his age group… But that does not mean he can play a young character. Who’s the casting director???”
• “If you want the characters to be around the same age, cast actors who are around the same age. Please.”
• “When will this stop? Please put some more thought into casting.”
• “Wow… I would not have known this is a remake of Us And Them. They’re f*cking over the original…”
• “Not only do these two look decades apart, but also they have zero chemistry.”
• “I don’t think they’re fit for romantic roles…”
• “Wait, this is one of my favorite movies…”

Once We Were Us, a Korean movie set to release on December 31, 2025 (KST), is a remake of the beloved 2018 Chinese original, Us and Them, telling the story of two exes crossing paths again on a flight to Korea and reflecting on their past relationship.

Watch the trailer here: