Mingyu is one of the most recognizable members of SEVENTEEN, the thirteen-member K-pop group that has spent over a decade at the top of the industry. Known for his height, his rap and songwriting contributions, and his long friendship with BTS’ Jungkook, Mingyu has built a career that extends well beyond music into fashion, variety television, and visual art. With his military enlistment now confirmed for September 2026, interest in his biography, earnings, and personal life has spiked. Here is a complete rundown.
Who Is Mingyu?
Mingyu’s birth name is Kim Min-gyu. He was born on April 6, 1997, in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, making him 29 years old as of 2026. He is the eldest child in his family and has a younger sister, though he has generally kept details about his family life private.
As a teenager, Mingyu was athletic before he was musical, playing competitive soccer and reaching a national-level tournament with his school team before shifting his focus toward hip-hop and eventually trainee life. He is left-handed, stands out as the tallest member of SEVENTEEN, and is known within the group for a personality that fans often describe as playful and warm, in contrast to his sharp visual image.
How Did Mingyu Become Famous?
Mingyu trained under Pledis Entertainment before debuting as a member of SEVENTEEN in May 2015. Within the group, he serves as a rapper, sub-vocalist, and one of the visuals, and he belongs to SEVENTEEN’s Hip-Hop Unit alongside members S.Coups, Wonwoo, and Vernon.
SEVENTEEN built its reputation on being deeply involved in its own music production and choreography, and Mingyu became known early on for co-writing lyrics on group tracks, giving him creative credits beyond simply performing. As the group’s discography grew through albums like “Heng:garae,” “An Ode,” “Attacca,” and “Face the Sun,” which have each sold over a million copies, Mingyu’s profile rose alongside the group’s, both through his musical contributions and his increasing visibility in fashion.
He has modeled for major magazines, appeared in campaigns for international fashion brands, and become known as something of a style icon within the group. He has also shown off an artistic side outside music: for SEVENTEEN’s third anniversary in 2018, he and fellow member The8 held an art exhibition where his painting “Growing Pains” was displayed, and he is credited with designing BongBongie, one of SEVENTEEN’s official mascots, which earned him the nickname “BongBong’s Dad” among fans.
Variety show hosting and guest appearances rounded out his public image, helping him become one of the more mainstream-recognizable members of the group in South Korea, independent of his music career.
Are Mingyu and Jungkook Friends?
Yes, and their friendship is one of the more well-documented bonds in K-pop. Mingyu and BTS’ Jungkook are both part of the so-called “97-liners,” a friend group of Korean entertainers born in 1997 that also includes GOT7’s BamBam and Yugyeom, NCT’s Jaehyun, ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, Stray Kids’ Bang Chan, and SEVENTEEN’s own DK and The8.
Their friendship dates back to at least 2017, when the two were first seen interacting at the Idol Star Athletics Championships, and it has continued publicly for years since. The pair have taken part in several viral dance challenges together, including routines for Jungkook’s solo singles “Seven” and “3D,” as well as a challenge for SEVENTEEN’s “Super,” with each artist returning the favor for the other’s promotions. They have also been spotted together outside of official schedules, including reports of a group outing at a barbecue restaurant alongside BLACKPINK’s Jennie shortly before Jungkook’s own military enlistment.
Their bond has occasionally drawn online criticism from segments of both fandoms, but fans of each artist have generally pushed back on the idea that idols should be limited to friendships only within their own group or company, and the friendship between Mingyu and Jungkook continues to be highlighted at joint events, including a 2026 appearance together at a Calvin Klein promotional event in Tokyo.
Is Mingyu Going to the Military?
Yes. On August 9–10, 2026, Mingyu’s agency confirmed that he will begin his mandatory military service on September 10, 2026, fulfilling his service through an alternative service assignment rather than as an active-duty army musician. His fellow SEVENTEEN members Seungkwan and Dino were confirmed at the same time to enlist as army band musicians on October 26, 2026.
Under South Korean law, able-bodied men must begin their mandatory service by the age of 30, and Mingyu, born in April 1997, was approaching that deadline. His enlistment makes him the seventh member of SEVENTEEN’s lineup to begin service, following members such as Hoshi, Woozi, Wonwoo, Jeonghan, and Vernon, who had already started their own service obligations earlier in 2026. According to his agency, there will be no official public event on his enlistment day, and Mingyu is expected to continue appearing in previously filmed content even after his service begins. SEVENTEEN has stated that a full 13-member group comeback and reunion is planned for 2028, once all enlisted members complete their service.
Is Kim Mingyu Married?
No, Mingyu is not married. He has not publicly confirmed a relationship, and like most active K-pop idols under a major agency, he has kept his personal dating life largely private. Public profiles compiled by entertainment outlets consistently list him as single, and no engagement or marriage has ever been reported by credible South Korean entertainment media.
Mingyu’s Net Worth
As with most K-pop idols, Mingyu’s exact finances are not publicly disclosed, and outside estimates vary considerably depending on the source and the year they were published. Older estimates from earlier in his career placed his net worth in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars, while more recent 2026 estimates from entertainment outlets that track celebrity wealth suggest a range between roughly $3 million and $6.5 million, with some sources citing figures as high as $6.5 million based on his combined income from:
- SEVENTEEN’s album and touring revenue, including sales from multi-million-selling records
- Songwriting royalties from tracks he has contributed to across the group’s discography
- Modeling and fashion brand endorsements, an area where he has become particularly prominent
- Variety show hosting and guest appearances
- Merchandise tied to BongBongie, the mascot he helped design
Given the difficulty of verifying private idol earnings, these figures should be treated as informed estimates rather than confirmed numbers.
What Happens Next for Mingyu
With his enlistment beginning September 10, 2026, Mingyu will step away from SEVENTEEN’s public promotions for the length of his mandatory service. Fans can expect pre-recorded content to continue rolling out during this period, and the group has already signaled plans for a complete 13-member reunion once all members currently serving have completed their obligations, expected around 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Mingyu? Mingyu was born on April 6, 1997, making him 29 years old as of 2026.
Is Mingyu going to the military? Yes. His agency confirmed he will begin his mandatory military service on September 10, 2026, through an alternative service assignment.
How did Mingyu become famous? He debuted with SEVENTEEN in 2015 as a rapper, sub-vocalist, and visual, and built his profile through songwriting contributions, fashion modeling, art projects, and variety show appearances.
Are Mingyu and Jungkook friends? Yes. They are part of the “97-liner” friend group in K-pop and have been publicly close since around 2017, frequently appearing together at events and in viral dance challenges.
Is Kim Mingyu married? No. Mingyu is not married and has not publicly confirmed a relationship.
What is Mingyu’s net worth? Estimates vary, but recent 2026 figures from entertainment outlets place his net worth somewhere between $3 million and $6.5 million.
What agency is Mingyu signed to? He is signed with Pledis Entertainment, a label under HYBE, as a member of SEVENTEEN.
When will SEVENTEEN reunite as a full group? The group has indicated a full 13-member comeback is planned for 2028, once all members currently completing military service have finished their obligations.