Winter (singer)
A sharp-voiced ace in K-pop's Aespa, she delivers powerful vocals and precise dance moves that define the group's futuristic, AI-powered concept.
Born 2001 (age 25)·South Korean singer and dancer·Birthday: January 1·Generation Z
Biography
Winter, born Kim Min-jeong, emerged as one of the most distinct voices of K-pop's fourth generation as a core member of SM Entertainment's ambitious group, Aespa. Trained under one of the industry's most storied agencies, she was unveiled as the group's lead dancer and vocalist, roles she embodies with a cool, almost ethereal precision. Aespa's concept, which involves virtual AI counterparts called 'avatars,' required performers who could bridge the real and digital worlds, and Winter's clear, piercing vocals and razor-sharp choreography execution made her a perfect fit. Hits like 'Next Level' and 'Savage' showcase her ability to switch from sweet, melodic lines to aggressive, rhythmic rapping. Her popularity led to selection in SM's supergroup 'Got the Beat,' placing her alongside legendary seniors like BoA and Taeyeon. With a stage presence that blends innocent charm with formidable skill, Winter has quickly become a standard-bearer for the technical excellence and high-concept storytelling that defines modern K-pop.
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.
Winter 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 Winter 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
Winter'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
- Debuted as a main member of Aespa, whose single 'Next Level' won Song of the Year at the 2021 Melon Music Awards.
- Was selected as a member of SM Entertainment's supergroup 'Got the Beat', featuring the label's top female artists.
- Won the 'Best Female Group' award with Aespa at the 2022 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
Did You Know?
She shares a birthday (January 1) with fellow Aespa member Karina.
Before her debut, she was a trainee for approximately four years.
She has a black belt in taekwondo.
“I want our performances to feel powerful and precise, like a single unit.”
