ArtistStory J Company
Kang Mina
Kang Mina (강미나), born December 4, 1999 in Icheon, South Korea, is a South Korean actress who first made her name placing ninth on Mnet's Produce 101 in 2016. She debuted with I.O.I before joining Jellyfish Entertainment girl group Gugudan alongside Kim Sejeong, where she remained until the group's 2020 disbandment. She graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in 2018.
Her acting career built steady momentum. Supporting roles in 20th Century Boy and Girl (2017) and Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter (2018) led to a high-profile slot in Hotel del Luna (2019), the tvN fantasy blockbuster starring IU that dominated year-end ratings. She continued with the period comedy Moonshine (2021-2022), the crime drama Cafe Minamdang (2022), and Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023) on JTBC -- the latter streaming globally on Netflix.
In September 2025, Kang confirmed she would not join the I.O.I 10th anniversary reunion project, stating her focus remains on acting. Now fully committed to her career at Story J Company, she has made the transition from idol to working actress stick -- landing strong supporting roles in prestige productions while building toward lead work.
0 articles8 creditsDebut: May 4, 2016South Korean
Gallery
Discography
2016
Whatta ManSingle
Member
Filmography
2023
Welcome to Samdal-riK-Drama
Supporting
2022
MoonshineK-Drama
Supporting
2022
Cafe MinamdangK-Drama
Supporting
2021
Summer GuysK-Drama
Lead
2019
Hotel del LunaK-Drama
Supporting
2018
Mama Fairy and the WoodcutterK-Drama
Supporting
2017
20th Century Boy and GirlK-Drama
Supporting
Fans Also Ask
How did Kang Mina get her start in entertainment?
Kang Mina launched her career on Mnet's Produce 101 in 2016, placing 9th and debuting with I.O.I. (Ideal Of Ideal), one of Korea's most commercially successful project groups. After I.O.I. disbanded, she joined Gugudan in 2016 as a member of the sub-unit OGUOGU. When Gugudan dissolved in December 2020, she transitioned to full-time acting, signing with GreenHour Company.
What is Kang Mina best known for as an actress?
Kang Mina is best known for her lead role in JTBC's Gangnam Beauty (2018), based on the webtoon by Maenggi, where she played Ko Mi-rae -- a young woman grappling with beauty standards and social pressure. She followed this with the Tving original Summer Strike (2022), a quietly acclaimed drama about a woman who abandons her Seoul life to start over in a coastal village. Her ability to carry emotionally demanding lead roles established her as one of her generation's most capable drama actresses.
What was Kang Mina's breakthrough acting role?
Kang Mina's breakthrough was Gangnam Beauty (2018, JTBC). As the female lead Ko Mi-rae, she carried a story about plastic surgery, social discrimination, and self-worth -- a role that required nuanced emotional range. The drama's success marked her decisive transition from idol to actor and set the tone for the character-driven roles she has pursued since.
When did Kang Mina transition from K-pop to acting?
Kang Mina began taking acting roles while still a Gugudan member, building her craft through supporting parts in web dramas and series. After Gugudan's official disbandment in December 2020, she committed fully to acting. Her lead casting in Tving's Summer Strike (2022) alongside Im Si-wan confirmed the transition as permanent and critically successful.
What is Kang Mina's background?
Kang Mina (강미나) was born December 4, 1999, in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. She entered the entertainment industry through idol competition programming at a young age, initially gaining a fanbase through Produce 101 and I.O.I. before building a parallel and ultimately primary career as a drama actress. She is currently represented by GreenHour Company.
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