(Seventeen) Kim Mingyu Biography: profile, Education, net worth 2025, Career, And Family

Profile:

Stage Name: Mingyu (민규)

Birth Name: Kim Min-gyu (김민규)

Birth Date: April 6, 1997

Birth Place: Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Notable Traits: Left-handed, tallest member of SEVENTEEN, known for his optimism and multi-talented nature

The poetic meaning of Mingyu's name—"Min" means "precious gemstone," and "Gyu" means "star"—reflects his dazzling prominence in the K-pop industry. He is renowned for his rapping skills, compelling stage presence, and aesthetic appeal as a member of SEVENTEEN's Hip-Hop Unit. Ranking No. 32 on TC Candler's "The 100 Most Handsome Faces of 2018" list, he is known as one of K-pop's most attractive idols due to his towering height and captivating charm.

Education:

Mingyu's academic path demonstrates his commitment to striking a balance between his love of music and formal education. In his sophomore year at Burim Middle School, Pledis Entertainment scouted him. He joined the school's music club and taught himself to play a variety of instruments, including the bass guitar, which he played in the school band by the eighth grade, fostering his early love in music.
After that, he enrolled at and graduated from Seoul Broadcasting High School in 2016. This university is well-known for emphasising entertainment and media, which fits with Mingyu's professional goals. He attended Dong-A Broadcasting Arts University to further his education, majoring in K-Pop at the Broadcasting Entertainment Department. In addition to his training as a K-pop idol, this academic background gave him a solid foundation in performance and production.

Career:

Early Beginnings and Training:

When Pledis Entertainment scouted Mingyu in his sophomore year of middle school in 2011, his path to fame officially began. Notably, he wore sandals to his audition—a peculiar touch that has become part of his legend among followers. He spent four years honing his rapping, dancing, and singing abilities. He gained early recognition during this time by making appearances in music videos for labelmates, such as Hello Venus's "Venus" and NU'EST's "Face." Additionally, he took part in Seventeen TV, an Ustream online reality program that featured Pledis trainees getting ready for their debut.
Make your debut with SEVENTEEN
On May 26, 2015, Mingyu made her SEVENTEEN debut with the release of their first extended play (EP), 17 Carat. With 13 members split up into three sub-units (Performance, Vocal, and Hip-Hop), the group immediately became well-known for its self-produced music and synchronised performances. SEVENTEEN made their global debut with 17 Carat, the only debut album to make it onto Billboard's "10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2015" list. Contributing to songs like "BOOMBOOM," "Don't Wanna Cry," and "Home;Run," Mingyu demonstrated his lyrical and performance abilities as a member of the Hip-Hop Unit.
Boys Be (2015), Love & Letter (2016), Going Seventeen (2016), AI1 (2017), Teen, Age (2017), and Face the Sun (2022) were among SEVENTEEN's later releases that cemented their place as a top K-pop group. Face the Sun broke the Hanteo Chart with over 2 million copies sold. Beyond only rapping, Mingyu has penned the lyrics to more than 45 songs and produced the music video for "Snap Shoot."

Solo Ventures and Endorsements:

In addition to SEVENTEEN, Mingyu has established a prosperous solo career. He demonstrated his charisma and hosting abilities as an MC for SBS's Inkigayo from February 2018 to late 2019, working alongside actor Song Kang and DIA's Jung Chae-yeon. He worked with Lee Hi and bandmate Wonwoo on the digital single "Bittersweet" in 2021, which peaked at the top of the iTunes charts in ten different regions.
Mingyu is a sought-after brand spokesperson due to his eye-catching appearance. Among his endorsements are French cosmetics brand Lancôme (2022).
Innisfree, a South Korean skincare brand, 2023
The French premium skincare brand L'Occitane (2024)
South Korean haircare brand Unove (2024)
Indonesian bank Allo Bank (2024) with Wonwoo
Snickers, an American chocolate bar and envoy to Asia, 2025
Calvin Klein's first campaign in 2024
Events celebrating Bulgari's 25th and 140th anniversaries in 2024
Aside from attending prestigious fashion events like Dior's Paris Fashion Week show (2024) and Marni's Fall/Winter 2023 catwalk in Tokyo, he has also appeared on the covers of magazines such as Dazed Korea, Cosmopolitan Korea, HIGH CUT, SPUR Magazine (Japan), and MORE Magazine Japan.

Other Talents:

The adaptability of Mingyu is also seen in design and the visual arts. In honour of SEVENTEEN's third anniversary, he and bandmate The8 organised an art show in 2018 where his painting "Growing Pains" was on display. Additionally, he created BongBongie, SEVENTEEN's mascot, which led to him being dubbed "BongBong's Dad." His artistic and athletic sides are reflected in his hobbies, which include basketball, football, photography, and action figure assembly.

2025 Net Worth:

Due to the difficulty in determining K-pop idols' earnings, estimates of Mingyu's net worth in 2025 differ. A range of $3 million to $6.5 million USD is suggested by sources; the most recent estimate, made in 2025, is $6.5 million. His riches come from:
Music and Tours: SEVENTEEN makes a lot of money from their albums, including Face the Sun (which has sold over 2 million copies) and Heng:garae, An Ode, and Attacca (each of which has sold over 1 million copies). Sales of products and international tours like "BE THE SUN" (2022) increase profits even further.
Endorsements: Prominent agreements with labels such as Calvin Klein, Bulgari, and Lancôme provide a significant contribution.
His income is supplemented by his work on Inkigayo, magazine features, and OSTs such as "Warrior" (Falling Into Your Smile, 2021) and "9-TEEN" (A-TEEN 2, 2019).
Other Projects: Mingyu's marketability is increased by his participation in visual arts and music creation.
He gave his parents 500 million KRW (about $362,000 USD) on Parents' Day in 2024, which apparently eclipsed YG Entertainment's quarterly income at the time. This is a noteworthy anecdote that highlights his earning ability and filial piety.

Family:

Mingyu was born in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, into a loving family. Although he keeps his parents' identities private, nothing is known about them. However, he has revealed that his father is a fashion designer, which may have influenced Mingyu's personal sense of style. During his 2018 appearance on Idol Radio, his mother disclosed that Mingyu is a member of the Kwangsan Kim clan and talked about his strong relationship with his younger sister, Kim Min-seo, who was born in 2001. Mingyu has shown love and protection for Min-seo by complimenting her appearance and culinary prowess. The close-knit friendship between the siblings is seen in their regular communication.
Although they keep a low profile, Mingyu's family is proud of his accomplishments. When old pictures of him were made public, it was noticed that he looked like his parents, indicating that he inherited their beautiful looks. His 2024 act of giving his parents a sizable present demonstrates his profound regard and appreciation for them.

Personal Life and Personality:

Known for his gregarious and upbeat demeanour, Mingyu is frequently referred to as the "dorm cleaning fairy" because of his passion for neatness. He fixes broken things, vacuums, and cooks, earning him the moniker "Housewife Mingyu." Fans and bandmates find him charming because of his awkwardness and loud voice, which contrast with his professional appearance. He clarified during a 2024 birthday live that he was born weighing 4.4 kg and that he is the only left-handed member of SEVENTEEN.
He belongs to the close-knit group of K-pop stars known as the "97 Liner Squad," which was formed in 1997 and includes ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo, NCT's Jaehyun, GOT7's BamBam and Yugyeom, ASTRO's DK and The8, and SEVENTEEN's DK and The8. This group keeps up a vibrant group chat, demonstrating Mingyu's amiable disposition. In SEVENTEEN, he views Wonwoo as his best buddy and is also close to Kihyun from MONSTA X.
Sports (basketball and soccer), glass collecting, and mint chocolate ice cream—a flavour that divides fans—are some of Mingyu's pastimes. On his right calf, he has a tattoo of pyrotechnics, which represents his wish to "live hard." As is typical of K-pop idols, he is unmarried and keeps his romantic life quiet, but his ideal type is tall, gentle, and laid back.

Achievements and Impact:

Mingyu has made major contributions to both the K-pop industry and SEVENTEEN. In addition to being named one of Time magazine's top K-pop groups, SEVENTEEN has gained international fame thanks to his lyrical work, visual creativity, and stage presence. His hosting and participation on variety shows demonstrate his flexibility, while his fashion endeavours and endorsements have cemented his position as a style icon.
During his 2025 birthday live, he pledged to "love you forever" and stressed mutual health and loyalty, demonstrating his devotion to his supporters, known as CARATs. He is adored all around the world because of his capacity to engage with followers via music, art, and face-to-face contacts.