Kwon Mina debuted with the group AOA in 2012. Although AOA initially struggled to gain attention, they began to rise to fame with the 2014 hit “Miniskirt”, which featured a sexy concept. Following this success, AOA released a series of hit songs such as “Short Hair”, “Like a Cat”, “Heart Attack”, “Good Luck”, “Excuse Me” and “Bingle Bangle”.
During her time with AOA, Kwon Mina also made a name for herself as an actress, earning recognition for her role as Kim Hee-sun’s younger counterpart in “Wonderful Days”. She continued her acting career with roles in “Modern Farmer”, “All About My Mom”, “Click Your Heart”, “Hospital Ship”, “Queen of Mystery 2” and “Sweet Revenge 2”.
After leaving AOA in 2019 to pursue a solo career, Kwon Mina found herself in the spotlight again in 2020 when she made a series of shocking allegations about being bullied by her group members. Her revelations led to AOA halting their activities, and Shin Jimin left the group.
While Kwon Mina received sympathy as a victim of bullying, her subsequent actions were met with disappointment. She became embroiled in various controversies, and issues surrounding her apologies and explanations on SNS, which were criticized for lacking sincerity. Some discrepancies in her claims further eroded public trust.
Public opinion, which had once been sympathetic, began to shift. Concerns about Kwon Mina’s mental health grew, especially as she continued to post on SNS. Shortly after the controversy over encouraging monkey branching, she revealed a new boyfriend and shared images of herself smoking in a non-smoking room while enjoying a hocance (spending your vacation only in a hotel), sparking more criticism.
Afterwards, Kwon Mina issued a statement acknowledging her mistakes, expressing her intention to step away from SNS, and committing to treatment and self-improvement.
Now, in 2024, Kwon Mina appears to be in a better place. Recently, she opened up about her struggles through a YouTube channel, discussing her memories of her father, ongoing legal battles, and her plans for the future.
A close acquaintance of Kwon Mina told OSEN that she is preparing to start activities through MCN (Multi Channel Networks), clarifying that her mention of a “comeback” on YouTube does not mean an immediate return to the entertainment industry. The acquaintance also shared that Kwon Mina still has a strong desire to act again if the right opportunity arises. Her mental health has reportedly improved significantly, with the acquaintance noting that she is now much more resilient in the face of online negativity.
