Kim Min-ji
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
|---|---|
| Education | Changwon National University (physical education); master's degree, Inha University Graduate School of Education |
Biography
Kim Min-ji, also romanised as Kim Min-gee, is a South Korean track and field athlete and television personality who was a cast member of the Netflix dating reality series Single's Inferno season 5 in 2026. Born in 1996, she specialises in the 400 metres and the 400 metres hurdles and is widely known in Korea by the nickname "Karina of track and field", a reference to her resemblance to the aespa singer.
On Single's Inferno 5 she was one of the most-discussed participants. She won the women's vote in the opening episode, travelled to Paradise twice in the early rounds, and in the finale formed a couple with fashion marketer Song Seung-il, who is five years younger.
After the series ended, Kim said she and Song had lost contact after filming and were not a real-life couple.
On Single's Inferno 5 she was one of the most-discussed participants. She won the women's vote in the opening episode, travelled to Paradise twice in the early rounds, and in the finale formed a couple with fashion marketer Song Seung-il, who is five years younger.
After the series ended, Kim said she and Song had lost contact after filming and were not a real-life couple.
Early Life
Kim attended Chungbuk Sports High School in North Chungcheong Province. She has said she grew quickly as a child, from 156 cm in the sixth grade of elementary school to 173 cm after starting middle school, and that her eyesight weakened during the same period. She is the third of four siblings, with two older sisters and a younger brother.
She studied physical education at Changwon National University and later earned a master's degree in physical education from the Graduate School of Education at Inha University.
She studied physical education at Changwon National University and later earned a master's degree in physical education from the Graduate School of Education at Inha University.
Career
Kim's first major title came in 2014, when she won the 400 metres hurdles at the national spring middle and high school championships. She went on to win the 400 metres at Korea's National Sports Festival several times, including the women's university division in 2017, and collected university and national individual titles in 2018. She competed for the Jincheon County Office team from 2019 to 2023 and joined Hwaseong City Hall in 2024, where she was also named a city ambassador. An Achilles tendon injury in late 2023 affected her later racing.
A 2022 video of her competing spread widely online, and she signed with a management agency that year. She has since appeared on SBS's football variety show Kick a Goal, guested on Knowing Bros, competed on TV Chosun's King of Survival: Tribal War in 2024, and joined Channel A's Baseball Queen in 2025. She had previously turned down offers to appear on Physical: 100 and Single's Inferno before accepting the fifth season.
After Single's Inferno 5 she ran a YouTube channel, where in March 2026 she apologised for her curt manner during the reunion special and said she felt sorry toward fellow cast member Choi Mina Sue. In an April 2026 interview she said her workload had not increased as much as people assumed after the show.
A 2022 video of her competing spread widely online, and she signed with a management agency that year. She has since appeared on SBS's football variety show Kick a Goal, guested on Knowing Bros, competed on TV Chosun's King of Survival: Tribal War in 2024, and joined Channel A's Baseball Queen in 2025. She had previously turned down offers to appear on Physical: 100 and Single's Inferno before accepting the fifth season.
After Single's Inferno 5 she ran a YouTube channel, where in March 2026 she apologised for her curt manner during the reunion special and said she felt sorry toward fellow cast member Choi Mina Sue. In an April 2026 interview she said her workload had not increased as much as people assumed after the show.
Kim Min-ji: Quick Facts
How tall is Kim Min-ji?
Kim Min-ji is 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) tall.
What is Kim Min-ji known for?
Kim Min-ji is best known for appearing in Single's Inferno.