Kim Min Ju Leads Her First Drama in Still Shining Opposite Jinyoung

Five years after IZ*ONE disbanded, Kim Min Ju is stepping into her biggest role yet. The actress and former idol takes her first lead in JTBC's Friday drama Still Shining, premiering March 6, 2026 at 8:50 PM KST with back-to-back episodes. She stars opposite GOT7's Jinyoung, creating one of the most anticipated pairings of the spring season.

From Idol to Leading Lady

Still Shining follows young people who once shared a world of their own as they gradually become each other's faith and guiding light in life. Kim Min Ju plays Mo Eun Ah, a warm-hearted character who brightens any room she enters and instinctively puts others' feelings first. The role represents exactly the kind of emotionally grounded lead that her post-idol trajectory has been building toward.

Kim Min Ju's path to this moment has been deliberate. After finishing 11th on Produce 48 in 2018, she debuted with IZ*ONE and spent nearly three years as one of the group's most visually prominent members. When the project group disbanded in April 2021, she made a decisive pivot: signing with Management Soop, the agency behind Gong Yoo, Bae Suzy, and Choi Woo-shik, and committing fully to acting.

The results have been consistent. Her turn in The Forbidden Marriage (2022) earned her the Best New Actress Award at the MBC Drama Awards. Undercover High School (2024) showcased her ability to portray character duality, while her film role in Cheongseol drew praise for its delicate emotional performance. Still Shining is the natural next step: not a supporting turn or a proving-ground showcase, but confirmation that she can carry a production.

A Compelling Co-Star Pairing

Opposite Kim Min Ju, Jinyoung brings his own weight to the project. The GOT7 member has built one of K-pop's more credible idol-to-actor transitions, with credits including The Devil Judge (2021), Yumi's Cells (2021-2022), The Witch (2025), and Our Unwritten Seoul (2025). He signed with BH Entertainment in 2021 after GOT7's departure from JYP Entertainment, a move he credited to conversations with veteran actors Yoo Ji Tae and Park Hae Soo.

The pairing draws from two distinct fanbases: IZ*ONE's still-active community and GOT7's global following. That crossover appeal, combined with JTBC's track record for prestige romantic dramas, positions Still Shining as one of the spring's most watched new series.

What to Watch For

Kim Min Ju's signature sensitivity has already generated early enthusiasm. Audiences are eager to see whether she can bring the same emotional resonance she demonstrated in supporting roles to a lead performance that requires her to anchor every episode. Mo Eun Ah's journey through moments of weariness and determination, her pure yet intense gaze conveying inner struggles and fluttering emotions, will test her range in ways previous roles have not.

Still Shining airs Fridays at 8:50 PM KST on JTBC, and streams globally on Netflix, with new episodes available every Friday.