Shim Mina (Korean: 심민아; born December 1, 1972), known professionally as Mina (미나), is a South Korean singer and dancer. She first gained public attention at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and subsequently pursued a career in popular music. The name "Shim Mina" is also borne by other individuals, including a South Korean novelist and a visual artist, so the term is not exclusive to a single person.
Early life and rise to fame
Shim Mina was born on December 1, 1972, in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Before her singing career, she worked as a model and as a backup dancer for pop artists such as Park Jin-young and Park Ji-yoon.
She became widely known during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when photographs of her cheering while wearing a red "Be the Reds!" bandana and using a South Korean flag as a skirt circulated in domestic and international media. She was nicknamed "Miss World Cup" as a result. Following this exposure, she signed with J-Entercom Entertainment and prepared to debut as a singer.
Musical career
Shim Mina released her debut single, "전화받어" ("Answer the Phone"), in October 2002, followed by her debut album, Rendezvous, in November 2002. The album reportedly saw success in China and the Philippines, where the lead single became a popular hit.
Her second album, Re:turn 2 Mina, was released in 2004. Its lead single, "돌아" ("Turn"), was a strong domestic success, entering the top five of Korean music charts. She later signed with EMI Korea and released her third album, Kiss Kiss, in 2005, adopting a belly-dance concept. The album was commercially unsuccessful. Her fourth album, Minastasia, was released in 2007 and received a large number of pre-orders in China.
During her career, Shim Mina acknowledged that she had initially stated her birth year as 1978 and later confirmed her actual birth year of 1972, apologizing to the public for the discrepancy. In the 2010s she was active primarily in China and released occasional singles, including collaborations with her younger sister, the singer Nikita. In later years she has been active on social media and has made intermittent television appearances.
Personal life
On July 7, 2018, Shim Mina married Ryu Philip, a member of the boy band Tri:al (formerly SoReal), who is 17 years her junior. The age difference attracted substantial media attention in South Korea.
Recognition
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best New Female Artist | Nominated |
| 2015 | Luxury Brand Model Awards | Korean Wave Contribution Award | Won |
| 2015 | Republic of Korea Peace Awards | National Prestige Promotion | Won |
Notes on sources and ambiguity
Reliable encyclopedic sources such as English Wikipedia and Wikidata identify Shim Mina primarily as a South Korean singer and dancer. Some details, including her exact birth date (December 1 versus December 10 as listed by some fan databases) and certain chart and sales figures, vary across sources and should be regarded as uncertain. The English Wikipedia article does not cite an independent corroboration for every commercial claim.
Because "Shim Mina" (심민아) is a common Korean personal name, it may refer to more than one notable individual. In addition to the singer, the name is associated with a South Korean author who debuted in 2014 after receiving the World Literature Newcomer Award, and with the visual artist Mina Shim (also written 심미나). Any reference to "Shim Mina" should therefore be interpreted according to context.
