Kim Min-ju
A former K-pop idol who gracefully pivoted to acting, earning recognition as a versatile and compelling leading lady in Korean dramas.
Born 2001 (age 25)·South Korean actress·Birthday: February 5·Generation Z
Biography
Kim Min-ju first captured hearts as the visual center of the multinational girl group Iz*One, her elegant poise making her a standout on the survival show 'Produce 48.' After the group's disbandment, rather than clinging to the idol path, she made a decisive and successful turn toward acting. Shedding the bubbly idol image, she immersed herself in dramatic roles, demonstrating a quiet intensity and emotional range. Her breakout leading role in the historical romance 'The Forbidden Marriage' proved her mettle, showcasing an ability to command a period drama with charm and wit. Managed by the prestigious agency Management Soop, home to major Korean stars, Min-ju has carefully curated a filmography that positions her not as a former singer dabbling in acting, but as a serious actress with a promising and enduring career ahead.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Kim was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Kim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished in 11th place on Mnet's 'Produce 48,' securing her spot in the project girl group Iz*One.
- Landed her first leading television role as So-rang in the historical drama 'The Forbidden Marriage.'
- Signed with the elite acting agency Management Soop after her idol activities concluded.
Did You Know?
She was a child model and appeared in various advertisements before her debut.
During Iz*One promotions, she was known for her exceptional handwriting and often wrote letters to fans.
She shares the same surname and agency as the acclaimed actress Gong Yoo, leading to playful confusion among fans.
“I want to be an actress who can show many different sides.”
