Shin Min-a is a South Korean actress and model whose career began almost by accident, when a friend quietly entered her photo into a magazine contest that she went on to win.
Born on April 5, 1984 (42 years old) in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, she has grown into one of Korea’s most loved leading ladies.
She started out as a teen model for KiKi magazine in 1998 before stepping into acting in the early 2000s. Fans know her best for the warm and playful roles that made her a favorite of Korean romantic comedies.
She became a household name through hits like My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), Arang and the Magistrate (2012), and Oh My Venus (2015). Her biggest global success came with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021).
She also won praise for Our Blues (2022) and Netflix’s Karma (2025). For her film work, she won Best Actress at the Chunsa Film Art Awards for Go Go 70s (2008).
Quick Facts of Shin Min-a
| Full Name | Shin Min-a |
| Birth Name | Yang Min-a |
| Profession | Actress and model |
| Age | 42 years old |
| Date of Birth | April 5, 1984 |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Aries |
| Birthplace | Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea |
| Current Address | Seoul, South Korea |
| Gender | Female |
Shin Min-a Early Life and Education
Shin Min-a was born as Yang Min-a, and grew up in a close family that included her parents, an older sister, and a brother. Gyeonggi Province was her family’s home base, giving her a fairly grounded, ordinary childhood away from the spotlight.
She has always kept her family life private, so many personal details from her younger years remain out of the public eye. What is known is that she grew up as a cheerful child, and a family trait often mentioned by fans is that everyone at home shares the same dimples she is now famous for.
Her life changed during her middle school days almost by chance. On a school picnic, a friend took photos of her and, without telling her, sent one to the teen magazine KiKi for its model contest. She ended up winning, and by 1998, at just 14, she had stepped into modeling.
Education
Shin Min-a completed her early schooling at Dolma Elementary School and Hatap Middle School before attending Hyosung High School.
She went on to study at Dongguk University, where she joined the Department of Theater and Film in 2003. She earned her place through a special admission track for students with strong acting talent, beating tough competition of about 18 applicants to every seat.
Because her acting and modeling work kept her so busy, her studies stretched over many years. She finally graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theater and Film in February 2017.
| School | Dolma Elementary School;Hatap Middle School;Hyosung High School |
| Alma Mater | Dongguk University |
| Highest Qualification | Graduate (Bachelor’s degree in Theater and Film) |
Shin Min-a Personal Life
Shin Min-a is known for keeping her private life quiet, even though she is part of one of Korea’s most talked-about celebrity couples. After a long and steady romance, she is now a married woman.
Husband
Shin Min-a is married to fellow actor Kim Woo-bin. The two first met in 2014 while shooting a fashion campaign together, and their agencies confirmed the relationship in July 2015.
Their bond was tested in 2017 when Kim Woo-bin was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. Shin stayed by his side through his treatment and recovery, which won the couple deep respect from the public.
After about ten years together, they married on December 20, 2025, in a private evening ceremony at The Shilla Hotel in Seoul. Only family and close friends attended, and actor Lee Kwang-soo hosted the event.
The wedding carried many personal touches. Shin wore a white Elie Saab gown, and the invitation featured her own illustration paired with Kim’s handwritten lettering.
As of now, Shin Min-a and Kim Woo-bin have not announced any children, so this is yet to be updated.
Parents
Shin Min-a comes from a close family, but she has kept her parents largely out of the public eye.
Her parents’ names and professions have not been publicly shared, so this is yet to be updated.
Siblings
Shin Min-a grew up with an older sister and a brother. Their names and details are not confirmed in public, so this is yet to be updated. A fun family note often mentioned by fans is that everyone in her family shares the same signature dimples.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Kim Woo-bin |
| Children | Yet to be updated |
| Parents | Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Older sister and a brother |
Shin Min-a Career
Shin Min-a started out as a teenage model and slowly built one of the most respected acting careers in Korea. Over more than two decades, she has moved easily between films and television, and across comedy, romance, thriller, and drama.
Modeling Beginnings (1998)
Shin Min-a began her journey in 1998 as a model for the teen magazine KiKi, after winning its model contest. She soon became a familiar face in commercials for brands like Samsung and Korea Telecom.
She also appeared in several music videos, including Jo Sung-mo’s “Do You Know” and clips for the boy band g.o.d, which brought her wider public attention.
Acting Debut and Early Roles (2001 to 2003)
She made her film debut in the martial arts fantasy Volcano High (2001), sharing the screen with Jang Hyuk, Kim Su-ro, Kwon Sang-woo, and Gong Hyo-jin. The same year, she appeared in the hit TV melodrama Beautiful Days alongside Lee Byung-hun and Choi Ji-woo.
In 2003, she took her first lead TV role in the boxing drama Punch. That year she also starred in the college romance film Madeleine opposite Jo In-sung.
Breakout Years (2005 to 2007)
Her profile grew fast in 2005. She played a supporting role in the noir film A Bittersweet Life with Lee Byung-hun, and joined the ensemble film Sad Movie with Jung Woo-sung, Im Soo-jung, Cha Tae-hyun, and Yeom Jung-ah.
The same year, she led the melodrama series A Love to Kill with Rain, Kim Sa-rang, and Lee Ki-woo, and starred in the romantic comedy film The Beast and the Beauty opposite Ryoo Seung-bum.
In 2007, she headlined the psychological thriller series Lucifer with Uhm Tae-woong and Ju Ji-hoon. She also played dual roles in the action comedy film My Mighty Princess.
Growth as a Film Actress (2008 to 2009)
In 2008, she gave one of her most praised performances as a 1970s rock singer in Go Go 70s opposite Cho Seung-woo. The role won her Best Actress at the Chunsa Film Art Awards.
In 2009, she starred in the romantic film The Naked Kitchen with Ju Ji-hoon and Kim Tae-woo. She also appeared in the acclaimed indie film Sisters on the Road alongside her close friend Gong Hyo-jin.
Romantic Comedy Stardom (2010 to 2012)
Shin Min-a became a household favorite with the fantasy comedy My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), playing a lovable nine-tailed fox opposite Lee Seung-gi.
She returned to fantasy again in the historical drama Arang and the Magistrate (2012), where she starred with Lee Joon-gi. Both roles cemented her image as one of Korea’s most charming leading ladies.
Film Work and Oh My Venus (2014 to 2016)
In 2014, she showed her range in the arthouse romance Gyeongju with Park Hae-il, and the romantic comedy My Love, My Bride with Jo Jung-suk.
In 2015, she starred in the hit series Oh My Venus opposite So Ji-sub. For this role, she won an Excellence Award at the KBS Drama Awards.
New Genres and a Steady Return (2017 to 2020)
She explored fantasy romance in the series Tomorrow, With You (2017) with Lee Je-hoon. She then moved into political drama with Chief of Staff (2019), acting opposite Lee Jung-jae across two seasons.
In 2020, she took on the mystery thriller film Diva, playing a diver who loses her memory, with Lee Yoo-young and Kim Tae-ri.
Global Fame with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Her biggest global moment came with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), where she played a city dentist who moves to a seaside village. She starred alongside Kim Seon-ho and Lee Sang-yi.
The series became a major hit on Netflix, reaching the top charts in more than 20 countries and staying popular for many weeks.
Our Blues and Recent Work (2022 to 2024)
In 2022, she joined the star ensemble of Our Blues, which included Lee Byung-hun, Cha Seung-won, Lee Jung-eun, Han Ji-min, Kim Woo-bin, and Uhm Jung-hwa. Her story was mainly paired with Lee Byung-hun as a childhood friend.
In 2023, she starred in the emotional film Our Season with veteran actress Kim Hae-sook. The next year, she returned to comedy in No Gain No Love (2024) with Kim Young-dae, Lee Sang-yi, and Han Ji-hyun.
Karma and Upcoming Projects (2025 to 2026)
In 2025, she stepped into darker territory with Netflix’s crime thriller Karma. She joined a strong ensemble that featured Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-joon, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Kwang-soo, and Gong Seung-yeon.
Her upcoming project is the Disney+ fantasy series The Remarried Empress, where she plays Empress Navier. She stars with Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Lee Se-young.
Shin Min-a Filmography
Shin Min-a has built a filmography that spans films, television dramas, and streaming series across more than two decades. Below is her complete list of work, divided into movies, TV shows, and upcoming projects.
Shin Min-a Movies
| Year | Title | Role | IMDb |
| 2001 | Volcano High | Yoo Chae-yi | 5.9 |
| 2003 | Madeleine | Hee-jin | 6.3 |
| 2005 | A Bittersweet Life | Hee-soo | 7.5 |
| 2005 | Sad Movie | Ahn Su-eun | 7.2 |
| 2005 | The Beast and the Beauty | Jang Hae-ju | 6.5 |
| 2008 | My Mighty Princess | Kang So-hwi / Ok-soon | 6.1 |
| 2008 | Go Go 70s | Mimi | 6.7 |
| 2008 | Sisters on the Road | Park Myung-eun | 6.4 |
| 2009 | The Naked Kitchen | Ahn Mo-rae | 5.7 |
| 2014 | Gyeongju | Gong Yoon-hee | 6.8 |
| 2014 | My Love, My Bride | Mi-young | 6.4 |
| 2020 | Diva | Yi-Young | 5.5 |
| 2023 | Our Season | Bang Jin-ju | 6.9 |
Shin Min-a TV Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Platform | IMDb |
| 2001 | Beautiful Days | Lee Min-ji | Prime Video | 7.6 |
| 2003 | Punch | Jang Yoo-bin | Netflix | 7.3 |
| 2005 | A Love to Kill | Cha Eun-seok | Prime Video | 7.3 |
| 2007 | Lucifer | Seo Hae-in | YouTube | 7.6 |
| 2010 | My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho | Gu Mi-ho | Prime Video, Netflix | 7.6 |
| 2012 | Tale of Arang | Arang | Rakuten Viki | 7.3 |
| 2015 – 2016 | Oh My Venus | Kang Joo-eun | Netflix, Zee 5, Rakuten Viki | 7.7 |
| 2017 | Tomorrow, With You | Song Ma-rin | Prime Video | 7.4 |
| 2019 | Chief of Staff | Kang Sun-young | Netflix | 7.7 |
| 2021 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Yoon Hye-jin | Netflix | 8.3 |
| 2022 | Our Blues | Min Seon-ah | Netflix | 8.6 |
| 2024 | No Gain No Love | Son Hae-yeong | Prime Video | 7.5 |
| 2025 | Karma | Lee Ju-yeon | Netflix | 7.6 |
Shin Min-a Upcoming Projects
| Year | Title | Role | Platform |
| 2026 | The Remarried Empress | Navier | Disney+ |
Shin Min-a Awards and Achievements
Shin Min-a has earned strong recognition for both her film and television work over the years. Her most notable acting honors have come from her performances in Go Go 70s, My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, and Oh My Venus. She has also been widely praised for her style and her steady charity work.
Her Major Wins
- SBS Drama Awards (2003): Won the New Star Award for the drama Punch.
- University Film Festival of Korea (2008): Won Best Supporting Actress for Go Go 70s (2008).
- Chunsa Film Art Awards (2009): Won Best Actress for Go Go 70s (2008).
- Max Movie Awards (2009): Won Best Actress for her film work.
- SBS Drama Awards (2010): Won the Excellence Award for My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), the Best Couple Award with Lee Seung-gi, and a Top 10 Stars honor.
- MBC Drama Awards (2012): Won the Best Couple Award with Lee Joon-gi for Arang and the Magistrate (2012).
- KBS Drama Awards (2015): Won the Excellence Award for Oh My Venus (2015) and the Best Couple Award with So Ji-sub.
- Seoul International Drama Awards (2016): Won Outstanding Korean Actress for Oh My Venus (2015).
- APAN Star Awards (2022): Won the Top Excellence Award for her work in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) and Our Blues (2022).
- Beautiful Artist Awards (2024): Won the Good People Artist Award for her charitable contributions.
Her Key Nominations
- KBS Drama Awards (2005): Nominated for Best New Actress for A Love to Kill (2005).
- KBS Drama Awards (2007): Nominated for the Excellence Award for Lucifer (2007).
- Korean Film Awards (2008): Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Go Go 70s (2008).
- MBC Drama Awards (2012): Nominated for the Top Excellence Award for Arang and the Magistrate (2012).
- Baeksang Arts Awards (2015): Nominated for Best Actress in Film for Gyeongju (2014).
- Blue Dragon Film Awards (2021): Nominated for Best Leading Actress for Diva (2020).
Other Recognitions
- Presidential Citation (2019): Honored by the Financial Services Commission for her long record of charity and donations.
- Presidential Commendation (2011): Recognized by the National Tax Service as a model taxpayer.
- Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40: Ranked among Korea’s top celebrities, placing 28th in 2010 and 15th in 2011.
- Style Icon and beauty awards: Won honors such as the Style Icon Awards Female Fashionista (2009) and Cosmo Beauty Icon of the Year (2011).
Shin Min-a Controversies
Shin Min-a has largely stayed away from serious personal controversies during her long career. The few issues linked to her name have mostly come from online rumors and situations involving others, rather than her own actions.
Premarital pregnancy rumors (November 2025): Soon after she and Kim Woo-bin announced their wedding, some internet users claimed she was pregnant, pointing to loose clothing she wore at a Disney+ event in Hong Kong. Her agency firmly denied the rumors and asked the public to stop the baseless speculation.
Body shaming and repeat pregnancy talk (June 2026): The pregnancy rumors returned after she appeared at the press screening of her film The Eyes, when some viewers commented on changes in her appearance. Many fans and reporters criticized this as body shaming and an invasion of privacy, sparking a wider debate about the intense scrutiny placed on female celebrities.
Kim Seon-ho scandal fallout (October 2021): Her name came up indirectly when her Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha co-star Kim Seon-ho faced a major personal scandal. Her agency postponed a scheduled interview because of the situation, though she herself was not part of the controversy.
Shin Min-a Net Worth
Shin Min-a has not officially revealed her net worth, so the numbers online are estimates. Because of this, the figures differ from one source to another.
Recent reports place her net worth somewhere between about $8 million (approx. ₹69 crore) on the lower end and around $35 million (approx. ₹300 crore) on the higher end, built through acting, luxury brand endorsements, and property investments.
She is also reported to be one of South Korea’s highest-paid television actresses, though her exact per-project fee has not been officially confirmed. Over the years, she has served as the face of major brands like Gucci, Roger Vivier, and Chanel.
Her giving is just as notable as her earnings. She has donated more than 4 billion won (about $3 million, approx. ₹26 crore) to various causes over the years.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $8 million to $35 million (approx. ₹69 crore to ₹300 crore) |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Shin Min-a Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | In centimetres: 169 cm In meters: 1.69 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 6½ inches |
| Weight | In kg: 48 kg In lbs: 106 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 33–24–34 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
Shin Min-a Social media
 @illusomina |
Interesting Facts about Shin Min-a
- Her stage name has a story. She was born Yang Min-a, but she adopted the name Shin Min-a before her film debut to avoid confusion with another actress named Yang Mi-ra.
- She is a published author. After her trip to Paris was filmed for a cable travel show, she released a travel essay book called Shin Min-a’s French Diary in 2009.
- She fully commits to her roles. Over the years, she has trained in hairdressing, boxing, and cello, learned sign language for Sad Movie, and sat through long prosthetic makeup sessions for Oh My Venus.
- She is a global fashion favorite. In 2009, she flew to Milan to shoot for Elle Korea with model Jamie Dornan, and in 2011 she became the first Asian face of the American brand Rag and bone.
- She is a luxury brand ambassador. In November 2021, she was named a global brand ambassador for Gucci, alongside actor Lee Jung-jae.
- She sings too. She has lent her voice to the soundtracks of her own dramas, including My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho and Arang and the Magistrate.
- She keeps work and love separate. Even though she and husband Kim Woo-bin both appeared in Our Blues, the two chose not to play each other’s love interests on screen.
FAQs
How old is Shin Min-a?
She is 42 years old. She was born on April 5, 1984, in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
What is the real name of Shin Min-a?
Her birth name is Yang Min-a. She took the stage name Shin Min-a before her film debut.
Who is the husband of Shin Min-a?
She is married to actor Kim Woo-bin. The couple wed on December 20, 2025, after about ten years together.
Do Shin Min-a and Kim Woo-bin have children?
No. As of now, the couple has not announced any children, so this is yet to be updated.
What is Shin Min-a famous for?
She is best known for dramas like My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), Oh My Venus (2015), Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), and Netflix’s Karma (2025).
What is the latest drama of Shin Min-a?
Her most recent release was the Netflix thriller Karma (2025). She will next star in the Disney+ series The Remarried Empress.
How tall is Shin Min-a?
She stands at 169 cm, which is about 5 feet 6½ inches.
