Introduction

Minji (민지), born Kim Min-ji (김민지) on May 7, 2004, in Gangwon Province, South Korea, is a singer and rapper best known as a member of NewJeans, a K-pop girl group introduced in 2022 under ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE.

As the group's oldest member, she is recognized for her gentle vocal tone, natural delivery and stage presence. Her ability to move between singing and rapping, alongside her involvement in songwriting, contributes to her artistic identity.

Career

Minji grew up in Gangwon Province and spent some time in Canada during childhood to study English. She later joined Source Music, where she began her artistic training before becoming part of the girl group project developed under ADOR. In 2021, she appeared in BTS's Permission to Dance music video, before making her official debut.

On July 22, 2022, she was introduced to the public with NewJeans and the music video for Attention. The group quickly became known for its aesthetic inspired by the 1990s and 2000s, combining contemporary pop, R&B and electronic influences. Minji contributed to its international rise and received her first songwriting credit for Ditto, released in December 2022. She also contributed lyrics to Supernatural in 2024.

Beginning in late 2024, NewJeans' activities were disrupted by a contractual dispute with ADOR, resulting in an extended interruption of promotions. In July 2026, Minji appeared alongside three other members in official content celebrating the group's fourth anniversary. However, discussions with the agency regarding her full return to activities were still ongoing in autumn 2026.

Did You Know?

  • Background: Minji comes from Gangwon Province, in northeastern South Korea.
  • Training: she began her artistic development at Source Music before joining ADOR.
  • Languages: she speaks Korean and has a good command of English, partly developed during a study period in Canada.
  • Songwriting: she contributed lyrics to Ditto in 2022 and Supernatural in 2024.
  • Education: she graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School in February 2023.
  • Interests: she particularly enjoys reading, especially mystery novels, and watching films.