Minji (singer)
The poised and charismatic visual center of NewJeans, whose calm aura and distinct voice helped define a new, effortless cool in K-pop.
Born 2004 (age 22)·South Korean singer·Birthday: May 7·Generation Z
Biography
Minji didn't just debut with NewJeans; she helped establish the group's entire identity from the first note. As the oldest member and a visual anchor, her presence is one of serene confidence, a contrast to the hyper-polished intensity common in her industry. Born in Chuncheon, she trained under HYBE for years before being selected as the founding member of ADOR's groundbreaking group. Her vocal tone, clear and understated, weaves perfectly into the group's Y2K-inspired harmonies, while her dancing carries a natural, fluid grace. Minji embodies the NewJeans philosophy: a focus on timeless melody and relatable cool over forced spectacle. She became, almost overnight, a fashion muse and a symbol of a refreshingly authentic generation of idols.
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.
Minji was born in 2004, 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 Minji Was Born
The biggest hits of 2004
#1 Movie
Shrek 2
Best Picture
Million Dollar Baby
#1 TV Show
American Idol
Minji's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2004Born
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2009Started school
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2017Became a teenager
#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
2020Could drive
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2022Could vote
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
2025Turned 21
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 22 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as a founding member and visual of the record-breaking girl group NewJeans in July 2022.
- Featured on multiple international year-end 'Best Songs' lists with NewJeans' hits like 'Hype Boy' and 'OMG'.
- Won multiple 'Rookie of the Year' awards with NewJeans in 2022, including at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and Melon Music Awards.
- Helped NewJeans achieve the fastest-ever climb to one billion streams on Spotify for a K-pop act.
Did You Know?
She was a trainee for five years before her debut with NewJeans.
Minji is known for her love of reading and is often photographed with books.
She is the group's designated 'mom' figure, often looking after the younger members.
Before training to be a singer, she practiced taekwondo and earned a black belt.
“We wanted to make music that felt like our own diary.”
