Who is Lee Min-Young? The Untold Story of Miss A's Former Star

Lee Min-young, professionally known as Min, has navigated a remarkable journey from K-pop idol to Broadway performer. Born on June 21, 1991, she initially rose to fame as a member of the South Korean girl group Miss A, which debuted on July 1, 2010, with their hit single "Bad Girl Good Girl".

Unlike the actress who shares her birth name, this Lee Min-young built her career across multiple entertainment fields. After training in the United States for six years, she developed fluent English skills that would later benefit her career. Her education included attending one of Korea's premier dance schools, showcasing her early commitment to performance arts. Her acting debut came in 2011 with the South Korean film "Countdown," where she worked alongside established actors Jung Jae-young and Jeon Do-yeon. Subsequently, she expanded her repertoire to include Broadway, joining the cast of the musical "KPOP" in April 2022, playing the character Riya.

Interestingly, before her Miss A fame, Min formed a dance duo called "Little Winners" with Girls' Generation member Hyoyeon when she was just 13 years old. Following her departure from JYP Entertainment in November 2017, she continued to evolve as an artist, eventually making her solo debut on November 8, 2021, with the digital single "Onion".

Early Life and Education

Born in Seoul, South Korea on June 21, 1991, Lee Min-Young began her entertainment career at an exceptionally young age. While many K-pop stars start their journey in their teens, Min's artistic development began during her early childhood. As a young child, she participated in "BoBoBo," the Korean equivalent of Sesame Street, as part of a duo called "Eolleong Ddungddang". This early exposure to performance provided a solid foundation for her future endeavors in the entertainment industry.

Childhood in Seoul

Min's natural aptitude for performing arts manifested early, attracting attention even before she reached her teenage years. Her childhood photos, which were unexpectedly revealed during a January 2011 episode of KBS 2TV's '100 Points out of 100,' showed a young girl who bore a striking resemblance to S#arp's Lee Ji Hye according to many viewers. These childhood snapshots offered fans a glimpse into the formative years that shaped her artistic sensibilities in Seoul's vibrant cultural environment.

Training in Korea and the U.S.

Min's formal journey toward stardom began when she successfully auditioned for JYP Entertainment while still in 6th grade. After demonstrating exceptional potential during her initial year of training in Korea, JYP made the strategic decision to send her to the United States. This unusual move highlighted the company's significant investment in her future.

Throughout her six-year training period in America, Min was being prepared for what was originally planned as a U.S. solo debut. During this crucial developmental phase, she gained recognition as "Lil Jon's protege", further establishing her credentials in dance and performance. Her return to Korea in 2008 marked a pivotal shift in her career trajectory, ultimately leading to her placement in the group that would become Miss A rather than pursuing the solo path initially envisioned.

Lee Min-Young education background

Despite her rigorous training schedule, Min's education remained a priority. In New York, she attended the prestigious Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts in Manhattan, an institution known for its specialized performing arts curriculum. This educational environment allowed her to develop not only her performance skills but also her fluency in English while receiving formal academic instruction.

The combination of intensive Korean training methods and American performing arts education created a uniquely versatile artist. One particularly notable aspect of her pre-debut period was her collaboration with Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon when both were just 13 years old. Together they formed a dance duo called "Little Winners", showcasing Min's exceptional dance abilities from an early age and foreshadowing the remarkable career that awaited her.

Debut and Rise with Miss A

After years of training both domestically and abroad, Lee Min-Young's path finally converged with what would become one of K-pop's most successful girl groups. Her addition to Miss A completed a journey that began as a simple audition and culminated in record-breaking success.

Joining JYP Entertainment

In April 2010, Lee Min-Young became the final member added to complete the four-member lineup of Miss A. This last-minute decision by JYP Entertainment proved pivotal in creating the group's dynamic. Miss A initially formed with trainees Fei, Jia, and Lim (who later joined Wonder Girls), informally known as the "JYP Sisters" or "Chinese Wonder Girls". After Lim's departure to Wonder Girls, Bae Suzy joined the trio, followed by Min, solidifying the quartet shortly before their official debut.

Debut with 'Bad Girl Good Girl'

On July 1, 2010, Miss A officially debuted under AQ Entertainment (a JYP Entertainment subsidiary) with their single album "Bad but Good" and its title track "Bad Girl Good Girl". The song made an unprecedented impact, becoming the first debut single by any artist to reach #1 on the Gaon Digital Chart. Moreover, it dominated the music landscape, eventually becoming the best-performing single of the entire year in 2010.

Success and popularity of Miss A

The group's immediate success shattered records. Miss A secured their first music show win on KBS Music Bank faster than any girl group before them. Their song "Bad Girl Good Girl" remained at the #1 position for four consecutive weeks, breaking the previous record set by Girls' Generation. Additionally, they collected wins on other major shows including Mnet's M Countdown and SBS's Inkigayo.

In the years that followed, Miss A continued to build their legacy with hits like "Breathe," "Touch," and "I Don't Need a Man". Though they released fewer than 10 Korean singles throughout their career, almost all became widely known and appreciated within the K-pop community.

Lee Min-Young age during debut

At the time of Miss A's debut, Lee Min-Young was 19 years old. Within the group, she held the official positions of Lead Vocalist and Main Dancer. Her powerful stage presence and exceptional dance abilities were frequently highlighted, often mentioned alongside Fei and Jia as part of the group's dance line.

Solo Career and Artistic Growth

Throughout her time with Miss A, Lee Min-Young simultaneously pursued individual projects that showcased her versatility. Even as Miss A's career flourished, she was quietly building a foundation for her solo endeavors.

Early solo singles and collaborations

Min's solo musical journey began shortly after Miss A's debut when she collaborated with labelmate San E on his debut single "Tasty San" in 2010. In 2016, she formed the project trio Triple T with close friends Hyoyeon (Girls' Generation) and Jo Kwon (2AM), releasing "Born to be Wild" featuring Park Jin-young. Notably, she ventured into songwriting, receiving credit for penning lyrics for Miss A's B-side track "Stuck" and co-writing G.Soul's "Far, Far Away".

After parting ways with JYP Entertainment, Min continued her musical journey with several digital singles:

"Onion" featuring Chang Suk-hoon (November 2021)
"Hit Me Up" featuring JMIN (April 2022)
"To The Beach" (September 2022)

A significant milestone came with the release of her debut EP "Prime Time" on June 21, 2024, coinciding with her birthday. The EP featured four tracks including the title song featuring rapper Lil Cherry.

Acting debut and film roles

Min expanded into acting relatively early in her career. Her film debut came in 2011 with "Countdown," where she portrayed Hyeon-ji, the rebellious daughter of one of the main characters. She was furthermore cast in "Sooni: The Executioner's Daughter," although release information varies.

Musical theatre and Broadway debut

In January 2017, Min made her musical theatre debut in the lead role of Tsukushi Makino in the Korean adaptation of "Boys Over Flowers The Musical". Her most significant achievement in this realm came in 2022 when she made her Broadway debut in "KPOP The Musical" at Circle in the Square Theatre in Manhattan. She portrayed Riya, a member of the fictional K-pop group RTMIS.

Lee Min-Young movies and TV shows

On television, Min appeared in several productions including web dramas "Dream Knight" (2015) as Jenny Lee and "L.U.V Collage" (2015) as Kim Na-ra. She likewise made a cameo appearance as a flash mob dancer in the popular drama "Dream High" (2011).

Recent Projects and Music Releases

Since leaving JYP Entertainment in 2017, Lee Min-Young has steadily built her solo discography with a series of distinctive releases that showcase her artistic evolution beyond her Miss A days.

Digital singles: 'Onion', 'Hit Me Up', 'To The Beach'

Lee Min-Young officially launched her solo career on November 8, 2021, with the digital single "Onion" featuring Jang Seokhoon. The song revealed a decidedly non-idol-like attitude with lyrics expressing her multifaceted personality: "I smoke, I drink, I get nasty with me/ Dirty, different and messy". In the track, she explores how everyone has multiple layers to their personality, much like an onion, suggesting people should accept each other's complexity.

In April 2022, she continued her musical journey by releasing her second digital single "Hit Me Up" featuring JMIN. This was quickly followed by her third digital single "To The Beach" on September 5, 2022. Throughout these releases, Lee Min-Young established a distinctive sound that differed significantly from her previous work with Miss A.

Debut EP 'Prime Time'

On June 21, 2024, coinciding with her birthday, Lee Min-Young released her debut EP "Prime Time" under Monstar Entertainment. This four-track project marked a significant milestone in her career, featuring the lead single "Prime Time" in collaboration with rapper Lil Cherry.

The EP included three additional tracks: "SHIMMY (Skip)," which cleverly uses a Korean playground song as its foundation; "M.A.W" (standing for "Might as Well"); and the heartwarming "HAPPY PLANT (A Call From Grandma)". This final track uniquely incorporates a recorded phone conversation with her grandmother in Korea.

"Prime Time" represents Lee Min-Young's journey toward self-discovery and empowerment. As she explained, "No one gets to tell you when your prime time is". The recording process was refreshingly organic, allowing her to create music without external pressures.

Special single 'Dive Into You'

On June 5, 2025, Lee Min-Young released a special celebratory single titled "Dive Into You" to mark her upcoming wedding on June 7, 2025. This release represents another personal milestone in both her artistic journey and private life.

Personal Life and Public Image

In a development that delighted fans, Lee Min-Young announced her engagement in April 2025. The news came via a heartfelt social media post where she shared her decision "to start a new journey in life with someone who has stayed by my side for a long time".

Marriage to non-celebrity businessman

On June 7, 2025, Lee Min-Young married her non-celebrity boyfriend, a businessman, in Seoul after dating for seven years. The ceremony was deliberately private, attended only by close family, relatives, and friends out of respect for the groom's privacy. Indeed, she became the first member of Miss A to tie the knot. Fellow Miss A members Jia and Fei attended the celebration, sharing photos that quickly gained attention online.

Public perception and fanbase

Throughout her career, Lee Min-Young has maintained a positive public image. Her wedding announcement received warm wishes from colleagues and fans alike. Singer Brian and actress Kim Hee Jung shared glimpses of the event on social media, with Brian writing, "Congratulations on your wedding! I'm so happy for you!". Her marriage announcement expressed gratitude to supporters: "Thank you to everyone who has supported and believed in me despite my shortcomings".

Comparison with Lee Min-Young (actress)

Lee Min-Young (the singer) is often confused with the actress of the same birth name. Certainly, their life trajectories differ considerably. The actress Lee Min-Young married actor Lee Chan in 2006, but their union ended after just 12 days following allegations of domestic violence.