Did Kim Minju Fumble By Not Signing With HYBE? — Netizens Argue Her Career Trajectory

Former IZ*ONE member and actress Kim Minju recently became a hot topic among Korean netizens.

After IZ*ONE disbanded, Kim Minju decided to pursue an acting career earnestly. It is known that HYBE had approached her, much like her former bandmates Sakura and Chaewon, to sign her under their agency, but she turned them down, wanting to discontinue her career as an idol. 

It is often speculated that had Kim signed with HYBE, she could have debuted as a part of LE SSERAFIM. Amidst the current controversies surrounding the group and the label, netizens are left wondering if Minju turning down the opportunity was a blessing in disguise.

Recently, a netizen posted on Nate Pann about Kim, saying that she “almost stepped into sh*t,” referring to her nearly signing with HYBE. The OP (original poster) added that being an actor these days is a much better option, implying that she made the right decision. The post has gone viral with over 100,000 views at the time of writing, with people in the comments arguing about Kim’s decision.

• “But she is getting forgotten in exchange for not getting sworn at. What a waste of that face.”
• “To be honest, I feel like almost impossible to restore LE SSERAFIM’s image. Even if Kim Minju is forgotten right now and doesn’t get any work, in the long run it is much better for her image not to be damaged. And with that face, there’s no way she will not get any work…I think she’ll find something soon. Originally, actors often do well by starting out in supporting roles.”
• “It’s horrible to imagine that Minju could be getting the same hate that Sakura or Hong Eunchae are getting right now. It is much better that she declined.”
• “It seems like she doesn’t really care to be in the entertainment industry.”
• “She is young, so it could have been good for her to be in LE SSERAFIM and become an actor later.”

Meanwhile, Kim has already made a mark for herself as an actress, starring in K-Dramas like Tempted (2018), The Fault Is Not Yours (2019), and The Forbidden Marriage (2022–2023). The last one earned her the Best New Actress Award at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards.