Shin Min-a
South Korean actress (born 1984)
Shin Min-a | |
|---|---|
 K-POPIT 케이팝잇 · CC BY 3.0Shin in September 2024 | |
| Born | Yang Min-a[8] (1984-04-05) April 5, 1984 |
| Education | Dongguk University[10] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Agent | AM Entertainment |
| Spouse | [11] |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 양민아 |
| RR | Yang Mina |
| MR | Yang Mina |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul | 신민아 |
| RR | Sin Mina |
| MR | Sin Mina |
| Website | shinmina |
| Signature | |
 Shin Min-ah · Public domain | |
Yang Min-a (Korean: 양민아; born April 5, 1984), better known by the stage name Shin Min-a (신민아), is a South Korean actress who began her career as a model before debuting as an actress in 2000. She is known for her leading roles in television dramas A Love to Kill (2005), My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), Arang and the Magistrate (2012), Oh My Venus (2015), Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), Our Blues (2022), and No Gain No Love (2024).
1. Career
1.1. 1998–2002: Beginnings as a model and acting debut
Shin began her modeling career in 1998 under her birth name, Yang Min-a, for the teen magazine KiKi.[12] Her entry into the industry followed a first-place win in a magazine competition for which a friend had submitted her photo without her knowledge.[13] She initially gained recognition through television commercials for brands such as Samsung[14] and Korea Telecom 018, in which her catchphrase "Love moves about" became particularly popular among South Korean youth.[13]
Shin started acting by starring in music videos.[14] In 2000, she was cast in the high-budget music video for Jo Sung-mo's "Do You Know", as a Vietnamese girl who falls in love with a Korean soldier during the Vietnam War.[15][16]
Ahead of her film debut in Volcano High, she adopted the stage name Shin Min-a, to avoid confusion with the actress Yang Mi-ra.[17] While Volcano High started production earlier, her first appearance as an actress was in the melodrama Beautiful Days.[18] She took five months of acting lessons in preparation for her role. Regarding it, she stated to The Dong-A Ilbo: "It was a completely different role than my regular image [...] At first, it was awkward, but I'm confident I won't get criticized for 'clumsy acting'."[19]
1.2. 2003–2011: Rising popularity and breakthrough
In 2003, she took the main role in the college romance movie Madeleine with Zo In-sung.[20] For her role as a hairdresser, she practiced hairdressing for three months before the movie started filming.[20] She then took on her first main TV role as a boxer in the series Punch, training under the wing of the boxer Kim Ju-hee for two months.[21] The drama's director, Lee Hyun-jik, praised her, saying, "Min-a might be a rookie actor, but she's so enthusiastic sometimes we worry someone might get hurt, and she also excels in expressing emotions."[22] Her role earned her a New Star Award at the 2003 SBS Drama Awards.[23]
In 2005, she took on a supporting role in Kim Jee-woon's noir film A Bittersweet Life, reuniting her with previous co-star Lee Byung-hun.[24] She then portrayed a deaf character in Sad Movie.[25] This was followed by leading roles in the melodrama A Love to Kill with Rain,[26] romantic comedy series The Beast and the Beauty with Ryoo Seung-bum,[27] and psychological thriller Lucifer with Uhm Tae-woong and Ju Ji-hoon.[28] In the 2007 film My Mighty Princess, Shin simultaneously played two characters.[29] After her travels were documented on the cable channel O'live in 2008,[30] Shin published a book titled Shin Min-a's French Diary in 2009.[31]
In the 2008 film Go Go 70s, Shin played a sexy counterculture singer[32][33] and won numerous accolades for her portrayal. She then acted as an unfaithful wife in The Naked Kitchen,[34] and a cynical young woman in search of her father in Sisters on the Road, a critically acclaimed indie film which also stars fellow actress and close friend Gong Hyo-jin.[35] But Shin became best known for her portrayals of supernatural horror icons revamped into endearingly innocent yet spunky heroines in the rom-com My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010).[36]
1.3. 2012–2021: Leading roles and international success
Shin starred in the historical drama Arang and the Magistrate (2012).[37][38][39] After appearing in The X, a 2013 spy thriller short film directed by Kim Jee-woon,[40] Shin returned to the big screen in 2014 with Gyeongju, an introspective arthouse romance opposite Park Hae-il.[41] This was followed by the romantic comedy film My Love, My Bride, where she and Jo Jung-suk played a newly married couple; it was a remake of the same-titled 1990 hit that starred Choi Jin-sil and Park Joong-hoon.[42][43][44]
In 2015, Shin and So Ji-sub were cast in the romantic comedy series Oh My Venus.[45] For her character, an overweight lawyer, Shin underwent a three-hour makeup/prosthetic session every shoot.[46] At the 2015 KBS Drama Awards, Shin won the Excellence Award, the Best Actress in a Miniseries award, and the Best Couple Award with So Ji-sub.[47] She also won the Outstanding Korean Actress award at the 11th Seoul International Drama Awards.[48] In 2016, Shin was cast opposite Lee Je-hoon in the fantasy melodrama Tomorrow, With You, portraying a 30-year-old amateur photographer who finds out that her better half can time travel. The drama was fully pre-produced and premiered in February 2017.[49][50]
Shin took a break from acting for two years. In 2018, Shin was cast opposite Lee Yoo-young in the mystery film Diva, playing Yi Young, a diver who lost her memory after an accident.[51][52] The film marks the directorial debut of Cho Seul-ye. It was showcased in the Korean Fantastic features section at the 25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival held in July 2021.[53] In 2019, Shin returned to the small screen after three years in the political drama Chief of Staff opposite Lee Jung-jae, as Kang Seon-yeong, a lawyer turned politician.[54][55] In winter 2019, Shin reprised her role for the second season.[56][57][58]
In 2021, Shin reunited with director Yoo Je-won in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, starring Kim Seon-ho and Lee Sang-yi. She played the role Yoon Hye-jin, a dentist who moved from the city to open a clinic in the seaside village of Gongjin. It was a remake of 2004 film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong, which starred Uhm Jung-hwa and Kim Joo-hyuk. The series became a domestic hit with audience ratings peaking at 13.322% and went on to become one of the highest-rated television series on Korean cable television history.[59] Following its release on Netflix, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha became one of the platform's most-watched non-English television shows. It remained on Netflix's non-English popular television show list for 16 weeks, and reached the top 10 charts in more than 20 countries.[60][61] It also on Netflix's Top 10 Chart for television shows for more than two months from its last episode.[62][63] She has also contributed her vocals to several singles and soundtracks.[64][65]
1.4. 2022–present: Continued success
Shin starred in Noh Hee-kyung's omnibus drama Our Blues.[66] Shin played Min Seon-ah, a divorcee with one child who came to Jeju and met her childhood friend Lee Dong-seok.[67] It premiered on tvN on April 9, 2022.[68]
Shin was cast in the movie Our Season in 2020,[69] which released in 2023.[70] The film was her first big screen role in three years after the thriller Diva.[71] Playing a woman whose dead mother gets a "trip from heaven" to visit her, Shin chose to appear in the film because of its heartwarming feel and relatable subject matter.[72] She played against type with a gloomier character, as in her previous project, Our Blues—explaining her choice, she stated that she wanted to play a variety of roles.[72] A writer for the Korean news outlet Dispatch, reviewing the movie, said Shin's performance with Kim Hae-sook was "like seeing a real mother and daughter".[73] The same year Our Season was released, Shin also returned to television with the series No Gain No Love; it began airing in August 2024.[74]
In 2025, Shin starred in Netflix's crime thriller television series Karma directed by Lee Il-hyung.[75] It is based on the Kakao webtoon of the same name by Choi Hee-seon, about people who are unexpectedly entangled and destroy each other while pursuing their own desires.[76][77]
2. Other ventures
2.1. Endorsements
Along with Kim Hyo-jin, Kim Min-hee, and Yang Mi-ra, she was considered one of the "four teenage commercial stars",[14] and a representative of the "N generation" (a Korean analogue to the millennial generation).[78] She has since become one of the most in-demand and highest paid commercial endorsers in South Korea.[79]
Notable among her forays into branded entertainment is the 2008 multi-episode Summer Days opposite Hyun Bin and Ryoo Seung-bum for LG Xnote featuring music by You Hee-yeol,[80] as well as Friends & Love, a movie-style extended advertisement for Giordano in 2011 costarring Jung Woo-sung and So Ji-sub.[81] In 2009, Shin went to Milan, Italy to shoot a photo spread for Elle Korea with Calvin Klein model Jamie Dornan.[82] In 2011, she was chosen as the first Asian model for the DIY Project ad campaign of American clothing brand Rag & bone,[83][84] and in 2012 was featured in The New York Times' T Magazine.[85][86]
Shin is a Roger Vivier's Maison ambassador for Korea.[87] On November 11, 2021, she was appointed as Gucci's brand ambassador with Lee Jung-jae.[79][88]
2.2. Philanthropy
Shin is a distinguished philanthropist whose cumulative contributions surpassed ₩4 billion by 2025.[89] Her commitment to social welfare has been widely recognized, earning her a Presidential Citation in 2019[90] and the Good People Artist Award at the 14th Beautiful Artist Award in 2024.[89] Her contributions already surpassing ₩1 billion by 2015[91] and reaching a milestone of ₩3.3 billion by the end of 2022. That year alone, her year-end gifts of ₩260 million to the Community Chest of Korea and Asan Medical Center brought her annual total to ₩360 million.[92]
Shin has been a dedicated benefactor to medical sector, focusing on pediatric care and specialized treatment. Shin is a constant donor to the Community Chest of Korea. Since December 2009, she has donated ₩2 million monthly, supplemented by year-end gifts ranging from ₩50 million to ₩100 million. By 2015, her contributions totaled approximately ₩717 million. Per her wishes, these funds primarily support heating costs for the elderly living alone, medical expenses for children with burns, and education for immigrant children.[92] In February 2020, she contributed ₩100 million to support medical staff and vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.[93]
In August 2014, she took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge.[94] In October 2015, she participated in the "Ohui Beautiful Face Campaign" and personally donated a ₩50 million to Seoul National University Children's Hospital. In September 2016, she donated ₩50 million to the same hospital.[95] Since 2015, she has been a supporter of the Hallym Burn Foundation. She participated in the "Let's Share the Heart" talent donation campaign in November 2016. She donated of ₩100 million in December 2020,[96][97] and another ₩100 million in December 2021.[98] Shin have been supporting Asan Medical Center since 2018.[99] In December 2021, she donated ₩100 million each to Asan Medical Center and the Korean Developmental Society to support psychological treatment for children affected by prolonged COVID-19 infections.[98]
In 2010, Shin donated ₩50 million to help build Korea's first multicultural school in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.[100] Shin has also maintained a long-term partnership with Good Friends, an organization she began supporting in 2010 after being introduced by writer Noh Hee-kyung. Since then, her cumulative donations of ₩290 million have funded essential services for North Korean defectors, specifically targeting single mothers and their children.[92] Most recently, in December 2025, Shin and her husband, Kim Woo-bin, jointly donated ₩300 million through organizations such as the Hallym Burn Foundation and Good Friends to ensure medical access for low income families and those in difficult circumstances.[101]
She has also donated to disaster relief. In May, Shin donated ₩100 million to Nepal earthquake relief efforts via The Korean branch of Join Together Society.[91] In August 2020 she donated ₩50 million to Community Chest of Korea to assist victims of torrential rains.[102] In March 2022, Shin donated ₩100 million to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association,[1] to help victims of the wildfires in Uljin County.[104][92] On February 8, 2023, Shin donated ₩50 million via the same NGO to help victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.[105] In March 2025, Shin donated ₩50 million to the Korean Red Cross to help wildfire victims in the Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam.[106]
3. Personal life
On July 22, 2015, through their agencies, Shin and actor Kim Woo-bin confirmed their relationship. They met each other as models for the same fashion brand two months prior.[107][108][109] In November 2025, Kim announced that they would be getting married in December.[110] On December 20, their wedding took place at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.[11]
4. Filmography
4.1. Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Volcano High | Yoo Chae-yi | ||
| 2003 | Madeleine | Hee-jin | ||
| 2005 | A Bittersweet Life | Hee-soo | ||
| Sad Movie | Ahn Su-eun | |||
| The Beast and the Beauty | Jang Hae-ju | |||
| 2007 | My Mighty Princess | Kang So-hwi / Ok-soon | ||
| 2008 | Go Go 70s | Mimi | ||
| Sisters on the Road | Park Myung-eun | Digital remaster in 2022 | [111] | |
| 2009 | The Naked Kitchen | Ahn Mo-rae | ||
| A Million | Jo Yoo-jin | |||
| 2013 | The X | Mia | Short film | |
| 2014 | Gyeongju | Gong Yoon-hee | ||
| My Love, My Bride | Mi-young | |||
| 2016 | A Quiet Dream | Min-ah | Cameo | [112] |
| 2020 | Diva | Lee Young | [113] | |
| 2023 | Our Season | Bang Jin-joo | [114] | |
| 2026 | The Eyes | Seo-jin / Seo-in | [115] |
4.2. Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Beautiful Days | Lee Min-ji | ||
| 2003 | Punch | Jang Yoo-bin | [21] | |
| 2005 | A Love to Kill | Cha Eun-seok | ||
| 2007 | Lucifer | Seo Hae-in | ||
| 2010 | My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho | Gu Mi-ho | ||
| 2012 | Arang and the Magistrate | Arang / Lee Seo-rim | ||
| 2015–2016 | Oh My Venus | Kang Joo-eun | ||
| 2017 | Tomorrow, with You | Song Ma-rin | ||
| 2019 | Chief of Staff | Kang Sun-young | Season 1–2 | [116][117] |
| 2021 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Yoon Hye-jin | [118] | |
| 2022 | Our Blues | Min Seon-ah | [119] | |
| 2024 | No Gain No Love | Son Hae-yeong | [120] | |
| 2025 | Karma | Lee Ju-yeon | [121] | |
| 2026 | The Remarried Empress | Navier | [122] |
4.3. Music video appearances
| Year | Song title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "A Request" | Lee Seung-hwan |
| "Eyes Want to Travel" | Leon Lai | |
| "Love and Remembrance" | g.o.d | |
| 2000 | "Since You Left Me" | g.o.d |
| "Do You Know?" | Jo Sung-mo | |
| 2001 | "With Coffee" | Brown Eyes |
| "I Love You" | Cha Tae-hyun | |
| "Sad Love" | g.o.d | |
| "A Fool" | g.o.d | |
| "You Just Don't Know" | g.o.d | |
| 2008 | "Summer Day" | You Hee-yeol feat. Shin Jae-pyung of Peppertones |
| "My Happy Day" | You Hee-yeol feat. Shin Min-a | |
| 2009 | "Miracle Blue" | Loveholics feat. Shin Min-a |
5. Discography
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Oppa, I Love You" | 2003 | Punch OST |
| "Pray for Yoo-bin" | ||
| "My Happy Day" | 2008 | You Hee-yeol – Summer Days |
| "Night Train" | Go Go 70s OST | |
| "A Year Later" | 2009 | The Naked Kitchen OST |
| "Miracle Blue" | Loveholics – In the Air | |
| "Sha la la" | 2010 | My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho OST |
| "I Can Give You All" | ||
| "Black Moon" | 2012 | Arang and the Magistrate OST |
6. Bibliography
| Year | Title | Publisher | Published Date | ISBN | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||||
| 2009 | Shin Min-a's French Diary | 프렌치 다이어리 - 신민아의 시선, 그안의 파리 | Namusu | March 4, 2009 | ISBN 978-89-961881-2-4 | [123] |
7. Accolades
7.1. Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAN Star Awards | 2022 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha Our Blues |
Won | [124] |
| Popularity Star Award, Actress | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Nominated | [125] | ||
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2015 | Best Actress – Film | Gyeongju | Nominated | [126][127] |
| InStyle Fashionista Award | —N/a | Won | [128] | ||
| Beautiful Artist Awards[2] | 2024 | Good People Artist Award | —N/a | Won | [129] |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2021 | Best Leading Actress | Diva | Nominated | [130][131][132] |
| Chunsa Film Art Awards | 2009 | Best Actress | Go Go 70s | Won | [133] |
| Cosmo Beauty Awards | 2011 | Beauty Icon of the Year | —N/a | Won | [134] |
| Dior Timeless Beauty Award | 2006 | Recipient | Won | [135] | |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2005 | Best New Actress | A Love to Kill | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Lucifer | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Oh My Venus | Nominated | ||
| Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Won | [136] | |||
| Best Couple with So Ji-sub | Won | [137] | |||
| Korean Advertisers Association Awards | 2010 | Good Model Award | —N/a | Won | [138] |
| Korean Film Awards | 2008 | Best Supporting Actress | Go Go 70s | Nominated | |
| Max Movie Awards | 2009 | Best Actress | Won | [139] | |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2012 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Arang and the Magistrate | Nominated | |
| Best Couple with Lee Joon-gi | Won | [140] | |||
| Mnet 20's Choice Awards | 2009 | Hot Fashionista | —N/a | Won | [141] |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2003 | New Star Award | Punch | Won | [142] |
| 2010 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special | My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho | Won | [143] | |
| Best Couple with Lee Seung-gi | Won | ||||
| Top 10 Stars | Won | ||||
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2016 | Outstanding Korean Actress | Oh My Venus | Won | [144] |
| Style Icon Awards | 2009 | Female Fashionista | —N/a | Won | [145] |
| 2010 | Style Icon Actress, TV category | My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho | Won | [146] | |
| TVCF Awards | Best CF Model | —N/a | Won | [147] | |
| University Film Festival of Korea | 2008 | Best Supporting Actress | Go Go 70s | Won | [148] |
| Wildflower Film Awards | 2015 | Best Actress | Gyeongju | Nominated | [149] |
| Special Jury Prize | Won | [150] |
7.2. State honors
| Country | Organization | Year | Honor or Award | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Financial Services Commission[3] | 2019 | Presidential Citation | [90] |
| National Tax Service[4] | 2011 | Presidential Commendation | [152] |
7.3. Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes | 2010 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 28th | [153] |
| 2011 | 15th | [154] | ||
| 2012 | 31st | [155] | ||
| Gallup Korea | 2021 | Gallup Korea's Actor of the Year | 2nd | [156] |
| 2022 | 12th[5] | [157] | ||
| Joy News 24[6] | 2022 | Best Actor of the Year | 6th[7] | [158] |
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Related articles
This article is based on the Wikipedia article “Shin Min-a”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the edit history for the list of contributors. Image credits appear under each image.