Park Min-young

Park Min-young is a South Korean actress known for her versatility across romantic comedies, thrillers, and historical dramas. Born on March 4, 1986, in Seoul, she has become one of the most enduring leading ladies in the Korean entertainment industry, with a career spanning nearly two decades.

Her breakthrough came with the 2010 historical drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal, followed by hits like City Hunter, Healer, and the massive commercial success What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018). She continues to captivate audiences with recent projects such as Marry My Husband (2024) and the 2026 thriller Siren's Kiss on Prime Video.

Park is also known for her openness about cosmetic surgery, a rarity in the industry, and her willingness to undergo extreme physical transformations for roles. Her Instagram following of over 12 million reflects her strong fan base. [edit]

Park Min-young's path to stardom began in 2005 when she appeared in a commercial for SK Telecom, which served as her entry into the entertainment world. She studied theatre at Dongguk University, laying the academic groundwork for her acting career, and graduated in February 2013.

She spent time living in the United States during her youth, an experience she credits with shaping her open-minded and easygoing personality. Before her breakthrough, she transitioned from advertising modeling into television acting, taking on supporting roles and continuing commercial work to build her resume. Her first notable film appearance came in 2008 with the movie The Good, the Bad, the Weird, directed by Kim Jee-woon.

These early years were about establishing herself within the Korean entertainment ecosystem, and she did so with determination and a clear focus on honing her craft. [edit]

Park Min-young's breakthrough arrived in 2010 with the historical drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal, which elevated her profile and established her as a rising star. She followed this with the action thriller City Hunter (2011) and the drama Glory Jane (2011), cementing her leading-lady status.

In 2014–2015, she starred in the romantic action series Healer, followed by the legal thriller Remember (2015–2016). Her career reached new heights with the romantic comedy What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), which became a massive commercial and critical success, and she continued with Her Private Life (2019) and Forecasting Love and Weather (2022).

Her 2024 role in the revenge drama Marry My Husband proved highly successful, though it required extreme physical sacrifice, she reduced her weight to 37 kilograms for her role as a cancer patient, surviving on ion drinks alone, a fact that later sparked health concerns when discussed publicly.

In 2026, Park has been prominently featured in two major projects. She stars opposite Wi Ha-jun in the Prime Video thriller Siren's Kiss, a "dangerously seductive game of cat and mouse" released in February 2026. She also stars in Nine to Six, an office romance K-drama premiering on SBS in November 2026, which will also stream on Prime Video and Netflix Korea. This marks her first on-screen collaboration with Yook Sungjae. [edit]

Park Min-young is known for her versatility across genres, from romantic comedies to thrillers and historical dramas. The media has portrayed her as a veteran star who has maintained relevance through careful project selection and adaptability.

Her signature strengths include her chemistry with co-stars and her willingness to commit physically to demanding roles. Her Instagram presence is professional and polished, primarily promoting her projects, and she has amassed over 12 million followers. Her openness about cosmetic surgery has been described as "one of the more quietly subversive acts of her generation," adding to her reputation as a candid and grounded celebrity. [edit]

Park Min-young stands as a dominant force in global entertainment, currently ranked the 50th most famous person from South Korea and the 19th most famous person in K-Drama within the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. These positions reflect her sustained cultural footprint across decades of work, maintaining stability even as new stars emerge. Her influence extends beyond mere viewership numbers, anchoring her status through consistent high-profile releases like Siren's Kiss and Nine to Six, which keep her at the forefront of international streaming conversations. While she commands attention on a massive scale, her specific fanbase operates without a formal moniker or centralized official name. Unlike many contemporaries who have cultivated distinct branded communities with unique rituals, Park's supporters engage primarily through general social media interaction and organic appreciation of her projects rather than organized campaigns or named collectives. There are no documented fan-funded billboards, charity drives bearing her specific name, or viral inside jokes that have crystallized into a unified identity for her audience. This lack of a formal title does not diminish their dedication; instead, it reflects a fandom that is defined by its support for her individual artistic choices rather than a shared organizational structure. The community remains fluid, reacting to her roles in real-time without the rigid hierarchy often seen in other corners of the industry.[edit]

Park Min-young has been a regular cast member of the Netflix variety show Busted!, marking her first venture into regular variety hosting where she discussed joining co-star Lee Seung Gi. She is notable for openly acknowledging her past cosmetic surgery, a rarity in the Korean entertainment industry that has sparked broader conversations about beauty standards. Having lived in the United States, she often describes herself as having an open-minded style that influences her career choices. In preparation for her role as a cancer patient in Marry My Husband, she reduced her weight to 37 kilograms, surviving on ion drinks alone during filming. She also maintains a YouTube channel with approximately 985,000 subscribers and over 23 million total views. Recent years have added new layers to her professional narrative, particularly regarding the intense physical demands of her 2026 roles. News outlets reported significant public concern in February 2026 when details emerged about her extreme fasting regimen for a drama project, highlighting the lengths she goes to for authenticity. Additionally, her collaboration with Yook Sungjae in the SBS rom-com Nine to Six marked a fresh pairing for the veteran actress, further cementing her reputation for selecting diverse and challenging projects that keep her relevant in a competitive landscape.[edit]

Park Min-young keeps her family life largely private, and public details about her parents or siblings are scarce. She has not shared extensive information about her family in interviews or on social media.

She has mentioned living in the United States during her youth, which influenced her personality, but specific details about her household or upbringing remain out of the public eye. Her focus has consistently been on her career, and she maintains a professional boundary around her personal life. [edit]

Key collaborators include Wi Ha-jun (co-star in Siren's Kiss), Kim Jung-hyun (co-star in Siren's Kiss), Yook Sungjae (co-star in Nine to Six), and Lee Seung Gi (fellow cast member on Busted!). [edit]

Park Min-young has kept her romantic life largely private, and public information about her dating history is limited. No confirmed long-term relationships, engagements, marriages, or children have been publicly documented in the available sources.

She has not been publicly linked to any confirmed romantic partners, and as of 2026, there is no public information indicating that she is married, engaged, or in a publicly confirmed relationship. Her current relationship status appears to be single based on available reporting, though she has not made any definitive public statements on the matter. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Park Min-young's net worth at $20 Million as of 2026. This valuation stems from her extensive tenure as one of South Korea's most established actresses, commanding substantial per-episode fees for her leading roles in major productions. Her income streams are diversified across television drama salaries, lucrative endorsement deals as an advertising model, and high-profile streaming platform projects. Her upcoming 2026 slate, including the Prime Video series Siren's Kiss and the SBS/Netflix series Nine to Six, represents significant financial opportunities that continue to bolster her earning power. Over the years, her ability to sustain relevance through careful project selection has ensured a steady growth trajectory, solidifying her financial standing alongside her enduring career success.[edit]

Park Min-young has received numerous awards throughout her career, particularly for her performances in hit dramas like What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and Marry My Husband. While specific wins are not exhaustively documented in available sources, she has been a consistent presence at Korean award ceremonies such as the KBS Drama Awards and SBS Drama Awards, earning recognition for her leading roles. [edit]