Minji Profile: Age, Height, Career, Facts & More
Minji is the eldest member of NewJeans, the group whose surprise 2022 debut helped define the sound of fourth-generation K-pop.
A former Source Music trainee who appeared in HYBE’s 2019 audition promotions, she went on to co-write lyrics for hits including “Ditto,” become a Chanel ambassador, and stand at the center of one of the industry’s most closely watched contract disputes.
As of late October 2026, ADOR has not officially announced the outcome of her contract discussions, although she appeared in the group’s four-member anniversary content in July.
This complete profile breaks down everything fans want to know about Minji: her age, height, career, personality, and the facts that keep circulating through the fandom.
Quick Facts About Minji
- Real Name: Kim Min-ji (김민지)
- Stage Name: Minji (민지)
- Birth Date: May 7, 2004
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Birthplace: Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea
- Position: Vocalist, Dancer (eldest member)
- Height: Approximately 169 cm (5’6.5″)
- Blood Type: A
- MBTI: ESTJ (reported; earlier results varied)
- Nationality: South Korean
- Agency: ADOR (HYBE); her contract discussions were still unconfirmed as of October 2026
- Group: NewJeans
- Education: Hanlim Multi Art School
- Brand Ambassadorship: Chanel (announced February 2023)
Early Life and Background
Minji was born on May 7, 2004, in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and is the middle of three children, with an older brother and a younger sister.
She has been reported to have learned English as a homestay student in Canada during elementary school, which helped her later in international interviews. She went on to attend Hanlim Multi Art School, one of Seoul’s best-known performing arts schools.
Her path to NewJeans began at Source Music, the HYBE label where she trained. When HYBE ran its 2019 global auditions, Minji appeared in the promotional videos, an early sign of how closely the company associated her with its next girl group. In July 2021, she and future groupmate Hanni made a cameo appearance in BTS’s “Permission to Dance” music video.
Career Highlights
A Surprise Debut On July 1, 2022, ADOR teased the launch of its first girl group by posting animated videos of the numbers “22,” “7,” and “22.” On July 22, the members debuted with the surprise-released music video for “Attention,” without any prior information about the lineup.
The debut EP, New Jeans, followed on August 1, and fan-wiki records say its songs “Attention” and “Hype Boy” took the top two spots on Melon’s TOP 100, a first for a girl group’s debut songs.
Songwriting and Chart Success Minji is credited as a lyricist on NewJeans songs including “Ditto” and “Supernatural.” “Ditto,” released in December 2022, became the group’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 96 in January 2023, and it won Song of the Year at the MAMA Awards, Melon Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and Asia Artist Awards.
NewJeans followed with hits including “OMG,” “Super Shy,” “How Sweet,” and “Supernatural,” the group’s Japanese debut single, released in June 2024.
Chanel Ambassador In February 2023, Chanel named Minji a brand ambassador, covering beauty, fashion, and watches and jewelry, according to her reference profile.
Her deal was part of a wave in which every NewJeans member became the face of a luxury house between late 2022 and 2023, with Hanni at Gucci, Hyein at Louis Vuitton, Danielle at Burberry, and Haerin at Dior.
The Dispute With ADOR In late 2024, the members announced that they were terminating their exclusive contracts with ADOR, and the company disputed that. South Korean courts sided with ADOR in 2025, including an injunction in March and a ruling on October 30, 2025, that the contracts remained valid.
The group made its last performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong in March 2025 and then paused its activities. In November 2025, Haerin and Hyein returned to ADOR. Minji and Hanni conveyed their intention to return through their legal representatives, and Hanni’s return was confirmed in December 2025. ADOR has not officially confirmed Minji’s.
NewJeans in 2026 In April 2026, ADOR confirmed that members had traveled to Copenhagen to prepare for future musical activities. On July 22, around the group’s fourth anniversary, ADOR released “2026 Summer of NewJeans” content featuring Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein.
As of the Korea Herald’s report on October 21, 2026, no comeback date or album had been announced, and HYBE had said it would share details once plans were finalized. Reports in May described Minji’s discussions as ongoing, and no later official announcement had appeared at the time of writing.
Personality and Public Image
As NewJeans’ oldest member, Minji is often described by fans as the group’s steady presence, and her lyric-writing credits show that she has been involved in shaping its identity as well as performing it.
She is also one of the group’s best-known faces in fashion media, where her Chanel role has kept her in the spotlight. Her public image has also been shaped by the group’s long absence.
With no official statement on the outcome of her discussions, fans have followed small signals, such as her appearance in the July anniversary content. Those details should be read as signs of interest rather than confirmation of any contract outcome.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- Minji appeared in HYBE’s 2019 global audition promotional videos as a Source Music trainee.
- She appeared with Hanni in BTS’s “Permission to Dance” music video in July 2021.
- She is credited as a lyricist on “Ditto” and “Supernatural.”
- “Ditto” gave NewJeans its first Billboard Hot 100 entry, at number 96.
- She is a Chanel ambassador, a role announced in February 2023.
- She is the middle child of three siblings.
- She was born in Chuncheon and graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School.
- She turned 22 on May 7, 2026.
Social Media and Where to Follow
Minji’s updates have mainly appeared through NewJeans’ official channels and ADOR’s accounts, including YouTube and Instagram, where the “2026 Summer of NewJeans” content was posted.
Because her contract status hasn’t been officially announced, fans should rely on ADOR and HYBE statements rather than fan speculation for news about her return.
If the group announces a comeback, ADOR’s channels are the most likely place for the first official word.
Conclusion
From a Chuncheon-born Source Music trainee to NewJeans’ eldest member, a lyricist, and a Chanel ambassador, Minji’s career reflects talent, early recognition, and an unusually public test of patience.
Whether fans are drawn in by her vocals, her songwriting, her role in the group’s biggest hits, or the hope of seeing NewJeans together again, Minji remains one of the most closely watched members in K-pop.
As the group’s situation develops, all eyes remain on Minji and on ADOR’s next official announcement.
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