Minji's Profile
- Full Name: Kim Minji
- Native Name: 김민지
- Nicknames: Marcus, Teddy bear, Gomaji
- Birthday: May 07, 2004 (21 years old)
- Blood type: A
- Height/Weight: 169 cm (5’6.5”) / N/A
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- MBTI: ESTJ
- Birthplace: Chuncheon, South Korea
-
Nationality:
South Korean
- Profession: Singer, Rapper
- Language Skills: Korean, English
- Debut: July 22, 2022
- Years Active: 2022–present (3 years)
- Group: NJZ
- Current Agency: Individual activities (in hiatus with ADOR as of 2024)
Minji, whose real name is Kim Minji (김민지), is a South Korean singer and rapper. She was born on May 7, 2004, in Seoul, South Korea. Minji is the leader and a member of the girl group NJZ (formerly NewJeans), and is currently pursuing an independent career after leaving ADOR.
As the group’s leader, she guided and supported the members while also serving as one of its main vocalists. Minji is recognized for her stable vocals, solid rap skills, and a Gen Z–defining fashion sense.
Early life
From an early age, Minji showed a strong passion for music and performance. She attended Seoul Arts High School, a prestigious institution known for nurturing artistic talent in South Korea. Before her debut, she trained extensively under HYBE Labels (formerly Big Hit Entertainment).
During her trainee years, she received systematic training in vocals, rap, and dance. Her potential was discovered early on, and she was developed by the company as a leading candidate for a new girl group project. She also took English courses in preparation for future international activities.
Career
Minji’s career began in 2017 when she joined Source Music as a trainee at the age of 13. In 2019, she became the face of HYBE Corporation’s Plus Global Auditions campaign, widely recognized under the nickname “The Girl.” Over her four years as a trainee, Minji underwent intensive training in singing, rapping, and dancing.
In 2021, she made her pre-debut appearance in BTS’s music video Permission to Dance alongside Hanni, marking her first public step into the entertainment industry.
Her career advanced further when she debuted with NewJeans on July 22, 2022, with the surprise release of the single Attention. Without prior promotion, the music video instantly created a sensation in the K-pop scene. Minji naturally took on the role of leader and main rapper.
Subsequent hits such as Hype Boy, OMG, and Ditto solidified the group’s impact. Minji’s individual artistry became more visible when she contributed lyrics to Ditto—the group’s first track to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, which went on to win Song of the Year at multiple award ceremonies.
In October 2022, she broadened her activities by serving as a special MC at KCON Japan, alongside Junki Kono (JO1) and Hwang Min-hyun (NU’EST), a pivotal step in shaping her personal image.
Minji also made a significant mark in the commercial sphere when she was appointed Chanel Korea’s ambassador on February 13, 2023. She became the first artist to be appointed across all three divisions—beauty, fashion, and watches & jewelry—consistently topping K-pop brand reputation rankings.
In 2023, she further expanded her presence as the main face of the Seoul Jazz Festival, appearing on the cover of W Korea for its 15th anniversary edition, and again for the 2024 edition. In March 2024, she participated in a campaign video by the National Election Commission of South Korea, encouraging young people to take part in the 22nd legislative elections.
Minji’s musical career entered a transitional stage at the end of 2024, when NewJeans ended their contract with ADOR. In February 2025, she and the other members announced their new group name, NJZ, and prepared for their stage at ComplexCon Hong Kong, where they premiered the track Supernatural, with Minji contributing as a songwriter.
However, their independent path faced obstacles when, on March 21, 2025, the court issued a temporary injunction restricting the group’s commercial activities under the NJZ name. Despite this, Minji has continued to promote and establish herself under her own name at public events.
Fun facts
- Minji has the deepest voice in the group and is the one who says “What’s up?” the most.
- She dislikes Hawaiian pizza, mint chocolate, and fruit-flavored ice cream, but she loves tteokbokki and salted bread.
- Minji has a habit of sleeping while hugging a doll. If she loses the doll in her sleep, she will search for it before going back to sleep.
- She often uses different kinds of bath salts and enjoys taking half-body baths.
- Minji is nicknamed the “cleaning queen” of NewJeans because of her meticulous nature and love of tidiness.
- She has the nickname “teddy bear” and prefers being called “gomaji” (a blend of “bear” and “puppy”).
- Together with Hanni, she calls themselves “Bbangsaz” because both were born in 2004 and both love bread.
- Minji has a habit of lifting her eyebrows with her hands and has the most photos of Haerin saved in her phone gallery.
- She is a Harry Potter fan and has said she would choose to live in Gryffindor’s dormitory if given the chance.
- In winter, she has the quirky habit of eating ice cream while drinking an Americano.
- Minji enjoys reading mystery novels and decorating her diary in her free time.
- She feels happiest when people compliment her for being smart.
- Because she tends to memorize slowly, she practices diligently to learn song lyrics and choreography.
- Minji loves fragrances and the scent of fresh flowers in May, as well as the clean, open feeling of summer.
- On days off, she likes to sleep in, have breakfast, and then go for a walk without planning where to go.
Photo Gallery
