Minju

Minju was born as Park Min-ju on May 11, 2004, in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. She is a Taurus, the second-oldest member of ILLIT, and the youngest of two siblings, with an older brother born in 2001. Source: ILLIT Wiki Fandom / Grokipedia

Within ILLIT, Minju's nickname is "Dumpling" (만두), a fitting description for the soft and comforting energy that fans and members often associate with her. Source: Kpop Profiles / Beauty Scene

At just 13 years old, Minju became a trainee under YG Entertainment, where she trained alongside the future members of BABYMONSTER and formed friendships that continue to this day. Source: ILLIT Wiki Fandom / Kpop Wiki Fandom / Grokipedia / Info Top Bio

She spent three years training at YG Entertainment before transferring to BELIFT LAB in 2021. Altogether, Minju trained for approximately five years before making her debut. Source: Byeol Korea / Kpop Wiki

Minju has revealed that R U Next? felt like her final opportunity to debut as an idol. Knowing what was at stake made her eventual success all the more meaningful to both her and her fans. Source: Kpop Singers / SCROLLBYTES

She finished third in the R U Next? finale and earned a place in ILLIT through a combination of producer evaluation and public voting, eventually becoming one of the group's main vocalists. Source: Kpop Wiki Fandom / Info Top Bio

Before pursuing an idol career, Minju studied both violin and piano. Her classical music background continues to influence her musical sensibilities and emotional delivery as a performer. Source: Byeol Korea / Famous Birthdays / Kpop Wiki

Of all the ILLIT members, Minju said Yunah made the strongest first impression on her. She specifically remembered Yunah's glasses, small face, and striking proportions when they first met as trainees. Source: Kpop Singers / SCROLLBYTES

In October 2024, Minju succeeded Hong Eun-chae as an MC for Music Bank. She remained in the role for over a year alongside actor Moon Sang-min before her final broadcast in January 2026. Source: Allkpop / Soompi / Sportskeeda

In May 2025, Minju and Yunah collaborated with American singer and actress Kylie Cantrall on the song See U Tonight, marking one of ILLIT's most notable Western collaborations. Source: Inquirer Entertainment / Wikipedia

Minju expanded her creative portfolio in 2025 by co-writing and performing the OST Love Smile alongside Yunah for the drama Last Summer. The song was officially registered with KOMCA. Source: Kpop Wiki Fandom / KOMCA

She hosts her own YouTube variety series, Minju's Pink Cabinet, where she has interviewed artists from groups including TWICE, EXO, ATEEZ, ENHYPEN, NMIXX, and ILLIT. Source: TheTVDB

Minju is close friends with former survival show contestants Choi Yoojung and Kim Eunkyul. Fans have also compared her visuals to a dog, rabbit, duck, and cat at various times. Source: Kpop Profiles / Beauty Scene

She has a pet dog named Tung-yi, whom she frequently describes as one of her greatest treasures. Source: Byeol Korea / Kpop Singers / Kpop Wiki

Her favorite comfort foods include tteokbokki, sundae, and twigim — classic Korean street foods that she has mentioned repeatedly in interviews and fan content. Source: Byeol Korea / Kpop Singers / Kpop Wiki

Although she enjoys watching scary movies, Minju admits she believes in ghosts and is easily frightened. Her favorite film is the zombie thriller Train to Busan. Source: Byeol Korea / Famous Birthdays / Kpop Wiki

Minju dislikes vegetables, beans, and mint chocolate. She is also known for frequently saying "Really?" and "No, no," verbal habits that fans have come to associate with her. Source: Kpop Singers / SCROLLBYTES

Her role model is DPR IAN, whose artistic freedom and unique creative vision have inspired her own approach to music and performance. Source: Byeol Korea / Kpop Profiles / Kpop Wiki