Minji
민지 · Kim Minji (김민지)
Kim Minji — Rapper · Vocalist · Unofficial Leader
July 5, 2004 Korean 169 cm — Type A ESTJ Taurus
Minji is the South Korean rapper, vocalist, and de facto leader of the record-breaking girl group NewJeans, born May 7, 2004, in Gangwon Province. Since debuting under ADOR in July 2022 with the smash single "Attention," Minji has become known for her calm stage presence, reliable vocals, and steady leadership within the group, even without an officially designated leader role. A former Source Music trainee, she co-wrote lyrics for the chart-topping hit "Ditto" and has represented brands including Chanel Korea. Fans searching for Minji's profile, birthday, height, MBTI, and ideal type will find a member celebrated for her poised visuals, disciplined work ethic, and warm relationship with fellow NewJeans members Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. As NewJeans navigated a high-profile contract dispute with ADOR and HYBE through 2024–2026, Minji's future with the label became one of K-pop's most closely watched storylines, with talks reportedly progressing positively as of mid-2026. This profile covers Minji's biography, discography, timeline, awards, trivia, and fanclub details, giving Bunnies and new fans alike a complete look at the woman many call the heart of NewJeans.
Story
Biography
Minji: The Steady Heart of NewJeans
Minji (real name Kim Minji, 김민지) is a South Korean singer, dancer, and rapper, widely regarded as the unofficial leader of the genre-defining girl group NewJeans under ADOR. Born on May 7, 2004, in Gangwon Province, Minji trained for over two years at Source Music before NewJeans’ surprise debut on July 22, 2022, with the single “Attention.”
Early Life & Trainee Years
Minji joined Source Music as a trainee during middle school and was later featured in HYBE’s Plus Global Auditions promotional material, which helped assemble the lineup that would eventually become NewJeans. Before her official debut, she appeared briefly in BTS’ “Permission to Dance” music video alongside future groupmate Hanni, an early sign of the polish and screen presence she would bring to the group.
Rise with NewJeans
As the eldest member, Minji quickly became a grounding presence for NewJeans, contributing rap verses and co-writing lyrics for the hit single “Ditto.” Her calm, composed stage energy and reliable vocal tone made her a fan favorite, and she became the face of brand partnerships including Chanel Korea. Through eras like “OMG,” “Get Up,” and the group’s Japanese debut “Supernatural,” Minji helped anchor NewJeans’ rapid rise to global recognition.
Navigating Uncertainty
The 2024–2025 dispute between ADOR and its parent company HYBE upended NewJeans’ activities, leading to a prolonged legal battle over the members’ contracts. While her groupmates Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni confirmed their return to ADOR by the end of 2025, Minji’s path forward has remained the subject of ongoing discussion between her and the agency, with both sides describing talks as continuing in a positive direction into 2026.
Whatever comes next, Minji’s warmth, discipline, and quiet leadership continue to define her place at the heart of NewJeans’ story.
Profile
Basic Information
| Stage Name | Minji |
| Full Birth Name | Kim Minji (김민지) |
| Date of Birth | May 7, 2004 |
| Birthplace | Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea |
| Hometown | Gangwon Province, South Korea |
| Nationality | Korean |
| Height | 169 cm (5'6.5") |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Blood Type | A |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| MBTI | ESTJ |
| Education | Hanlim Multi Art School |
| Agency | ADOR (HYBE Labels) |
| Debut | July 22, 2022 (NewJeans, "Attention") |
| Languages | Korean, English |
| Nicknames | Teddy Bear, Gomaji |
| Hobbies | Reading mystery novels, walking, watching movies, journaling |
| Favorite Color | Blue |
| Ideal Type | Someone kind-hearted and intellectual |
Membership
Groups & Positions
NewJeans
ADOR (HYBE Labels)
Rapper Vocalist Unofficial Leader
July 2022 – Present
The Lineup
Group Members — NewJeans
Minji
Rapper · Vocalist · Unofficial Leader
This Idol
Hanni
Vocalist · Rapper
Danielle
Main Vocalist · Lead Dancer (former member)
Haerin
Vocalist · Visual
Hyein
Vocalist · Maknae
Journey
Career Timeline
2019
Selected in HYBE's Plus Global Auditions
Minji, a Source Music trainee, was featured in the promotional material for HYBE and Source Music's global auditions that would eventually form NewJeans.
2021
Cameo in BTS' "Permission to Dance" MV
Ahead of her official debut, Minji appeared in a brief cameo alongside fellow future member Hanni in the music video for BTS' "Permission to Dance."
2022
Debuted with NewJeans
NewJeans surprise-released their debut single "Attention" on July 22, 2022, introducing Minji to the public as a member of the new ADOR girl group.
2022
Debut EP "New Jeans" released
NewJeans released their self-titled debut EP on August 1, 2022, which became the best-selling debut EP by a K-pop female act at the time.
2023
"OMG"/"Ditto" era & Chanel ambassadorship
NewJeans' first single album brought the record-breaking hit "Ditto," which Minji co-wrote, and she became a house ambassador for Chanel Korea in February 2023.
2023
"Get Up" EP and "Super Shy" era
Minji promoted the group's second EP "Get Up," which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, powered by the single "Super Shy."
2024
Japanese debut with "Supernatural"
NewJeans released the Japanese single "Supernatural," marking their official Japanese debut, alongside the Korean single "How Sweet."
2024
ADOR-HYBE management dispute begins
A shareholder dispute between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE spilled into a broader conflict over NewJeans' management and contracts.
2025
Court rules contracts valid; groupmates return to ADOR
Following a series of court rulings upholding the validity of the members' contracts, Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni confirmed their return to ADOR by the end of 2025.
2026
Contract discussions with ADOR ongoing
Unlike her groupmates, Minji's status remained unresolved into 2026, with ADOR stating discussions about her future activities are continuing in a positive direction.
Music
Discography
🎧
Attention
Digital Single
2022
🎧
Hype Boy
Digital Single
2022
🎧
Cookie
Digital Single
2022
🎧
Hurt
Digital Single
2022
🎧
OMG
Single Album Track
2023
🎧
Ditto
Single Album Track
2023
🎧
Super Shy
Single
2023
🎧
ETA
Single
2023
🎧
Cool with You
Single
2023
🎧
How Sweet
Single
2024
🎧
Bubble Gum
B-side
2024
🎧
Supernatural
Japanese Single
2024
🎧
Right Now
B-side
2024
Recognition
Awards & Achievements
Best New Female Artist (with NewJeans)
Melon Music Awards
2022
Song of the Year (Digital) – "Ditto" (with NewJeans)
Circle Chart Music Awards
2023
Top Global K-Pop Artist (with NewJeans)
Billboard Music Awards
2023
Bonsang / Album Division (with NewJeans)
Golden Disc Awards
2024
Artist of the Year – Album (with NewJeans)
Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA)
2023
Grand Prize (Daesang) (with NewJeans)
Korea Grand Music Awards
2024
Group of the Year (with NewJeans)
Billboard Women in Music
2024
Did You Know?
Trivia & Fun Facts ✨
★
Minji was born Kim Minji on May 7, 2004, in Chuncheon (some sources say Yeongwol), Gangwon Province, South Korea.
★
She is the oldest member of NewJeans and is widely seen by fans as the group's unofficial leader, even though NewJeans has no official leader position.
★
Minji has an older brother born in 2003 and a younger sister born in 2011.
★
She was a Source Music trainee and was one of the faces featured in HYBE's 2019 Plus Global Auditions promotional videos.
★
Before debuting with NewJeans, Minji appeared alongside member Hanni in BTS's 2021 "Permission to Dance" music video.
★
Minji co-wrote lyrics for NewJeans' hit single "Ditto."
★
Her nickname among fans and members is "teddy bear," often shortened to the cute nickname "gomaji" (a mix of bear and puppy in Korean).
★
She served as a Special MC for Music Bank in January 2023.
★
In February 2023, Minji became a house ambassador for Chanel Korea.
★
She can speak Korean, English, and has studied Japanese and French.
★
Minji briefly stayed in Canada as a child to study English.
★
Her favorite snack is ice cream, and she especially enjoys it in sandwich form rather than a cone or bar.
★
She dislikes spicy and overly salty food but loves tteokbokki (Korean spicy rice cakes).
★
Minji's hobbies include reading mystery novels, going for walks, watching movies, and decorating her personal diary.
★
She is jokingly called the "cleanup queen" of NewJeans for her tidiness.
★
Minji has taken MBTI tests multiple times, with results shifting between ENTJ, ISFJ, and ESTJ over the years, though she personally identifies most with ESTJ.
★
Her favorite animals are rabbits, puppies, butterflies, and bears — fitting the group's overall bunny motif.
★
She studied at Hanlim Multi Art School, a performing arts high school known for producing many K-pop idols.
★
Minji trained for about 2.5 years before NewJeans' 2022 debut.
★
She described her ideal type as someone kind-hearted and intellectual.
★
Minji is fluent enough in English to conduct interviews and interact comfortably with international media.
★
She has cited early summer, especially May, as her favorite time of year because of the scent of flowers.
★
Minji is often praised by fans for her calm, composed stage presence and steady vocal tone.
★
As of mid-2026, Minji is the only original NewJeans member whose future with ADOR remains formally undecided, with the agency describing talks as ongoing in a "positive direction."
★
Despite the uncertainty around her contract, NewJeans' official accounts publicly celebrated her birthday in May 2026 with a dedicated "Happy Minji Day" post.
The Fandom
Fan Club & Fan Name 💜
Official Fan Name
Bunnies
Bunnies (also called Tokki, meaning "rabbit" in Korean) is the official fandom name of NewJeans, unveiled on October 29, 2022, exactly 100 days after the group's debut. The name plays on the group's rabbit motif seen throughout their album artwork and stage design.
Official Fan Color
Tokki White & Pastel Multicolor
NewJeans does not use a single fixed fandom color; instead the group's rabbit-themed branding cycles through white, sky blue, pink, yellow, and orange across albums and merchandise, reflecting each era's mood.
Official Light Stick
Binky Bong
The Binky Bong is NewJeans' official light stick, first revealed on October 29, 2022 and released for purchase on March 30, 2023. Shaped like a rounded rabbit-inspired pacifier/orb, it lights up in white, green, pink, blue, orange, and yellow and originally came with interchangeable customization parts.
Fan Community Platform
Weverse
Weverse is the main platform NewJeans uses to communicate with Bunnies through posts, live broadcasts, and membership-exclusive content, alongside the group's own fan-interaction app, Phoning.
Stay Connected
Social Media
Photos
Gallery 📷
