Kang Mi-na

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Kang Mi-na

Role / Field:

South Korean actress, singer, and rapper known for I.O.I and her dramatic roles.

Born:

1999-12-04

Century / Era:

1999s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Kang Mi-na (Korean: 강미나; born December 4, 1999), known mononymously as Mina, is a South Korean actress, singer and rapper. She is best known for finishing ninth in Mnet's K-pop girl group survival show Produce 101. She is a former member of the girl groups I.O.I and Gugudan, as well as its subgroups 5959 and SeMiNa. Kang is also best known for her roles in the television series Dokgo Rewind (2018), Tale of Fairy (2018), Hotel del Luna (2019), Summer Guys (2021), Moonshine (2021–2022), Café Minamdang (2022), Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023), and See You at Work Tomorrow! Kang Mi-na was born in Icheon, and later moved to Jeju City when she was eight years old.

Career & Major Achievements

She graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in 2018. In January 2016, Kang, together with fellow trainees Kim Na-young and Kim Se-jeong, represented Jellyfish Entertainment on reality girl group survival show Produce 101 for the chance to debut in a Mnet girl group. The program came to an end on April 1, 2016, and the final line-up of South Korean girl group I.O.I was announced, made up of the top 11 poll-winners. Kang finished ninth overall, with 173,762 votes, becoming an official member of the girl group. On June 10, 2016, YMC Entertainment revealed that Kang would not be taking part in I.O.I's unit promotions, but would instead return to her agency to debut and promote with upcoming South Korean girl group, Gugudan.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In July 2017, a Gugudan subgroup named Gugudan 5959 was formed with Kang and fellow member Hye-yeon. They debuted with the single "Ice Chu" on August 10, 2017. In June 2018, a Gugudan subgroup named Gugudan SeMiNa was formed with Kang and members Sejeong and Nayoung. They debuted with the release of their self-titled single album on July 10, 2018. Kang made her acting debut in the MBC romantic comedy series Children of the 20th Century in 2017, playing the younger counterpart of Han Ye-seul's character.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1999 (1999-12-04): Birth of Kang Mi-na — South Korean actress, singer, and rapper known for I.O.I and her dramatic roles.
2. 2016: 2016 Milestone — In January 2016, Kang, together with fellow trainees Kim Na-young and Kim Se-jeong, represented Jellyfish Entertainment on reality girl group survival show Produce 101 for the chance to debut in a Mnet girl group.
3. 2017: 2017 Milestone — In July 2017, a Gugudan subgroup named Gugudan 5959 was formed with Kang and fellow member Hye-yeon.
4. 2018: 2018 Milestone — Kang is also best known for her roles in the television series Dokgo Rewind (2018), Tale of Fairy (2018), Hotel del Luna (2019), Summer Guys (2021), Moonshine (2021–2022), Café Minamdang (2022), Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023), and See You at Work Tomorrow!

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kang Mi-na

True or False: “Kang Mi-na debuted as a member of the girl group I.O.I immediately after finishing Produce 101.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Although she was part of the final lineup for I.O.I, she did not debut with them; instead, she returned to her agency to promote with Gugudan.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Contemporary (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• Akio Morita — Contemporary (Died in 1999) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Alf Ramsey — Contemporary (Died in 1999) (1999): Legendary English footballer and manager, best known for the 1966 World Cup victory.
• Albert Bandura — Shared historical date (12-04 · Born) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alexander Litvinenko — Shared historical date (12-04 · Born) (1962): Russian defector and critic of the Kremlin, known for exposing state corruption.
• Ali Sayad Shirazi — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Key Iranian military commander during the Iran–Iraq War, assassinated in 1999.
• Amália Rodrigues — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): The legendary Portuguese fado singer, known worldwide as the 'Queen of Fado'.
• Aaron Klug — Historical peer (Died in 2018) (2018): Pioneering biophysicist known for crystallographic electron microscopy and nucleic acid structure.
• Alan Bean — Historical peer (Died in 2018) (2018): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Historical peer (Died in 2019) (2019): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
• 1999 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1999
• December 4 (12-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 4

Frequently Asked Questions about Kang Mi-na