Oh Ji-min (Korean:오지민; born May 27, 1988), known professionally as J-Min (ジェイミン; 제이민), is a South Korean rock singer, songwriter, and musical actress. She made her debut in Japan in 2007 with the extended play (EP) Korogaru Ringo under Avex Trax. In 2012, she contributed to the soundtracks of several South Korean television dramas. She officially debuted in South Korea in 2014, with the release of the EP Shine.
Career
2007–2009: Debut
J-Min made her debut in Japan with her first extended play, Korogaru Ringo, on September 12, 2007.
On January 16, 2008, J-Min's second Japanese extended play, Dream On... was released. The release of her cover album The Singer followed on November 19, consisting of cover songs from several Japanese songs previously released.
J-Min released the single Change/One on May 27, 2009; it was used as the opening and ending theme for the TV anime adaptation of Hanasakeru Seishounen. It was later announced that J-Min was to perform as the opening act in TVXQ's Live Tour The Secret Code on May 30–31 at Fukuoka's Marine Messe.
2012–2013: Original soundtracks, If You Want, musical roles and Heart Theatre
J-Min released several original soundtracks for dramas in 2012. She released the first soundtrack, titled "Hello, Love", for KBS2's drama Wild Romance on January 30. Her second soundtrack, titled "시공천 애", was released for MBC's drama God of War on April 13. The third soundtrack, titled "Can't Say It", was released for MBC's drama The King 2 Hearts on April 27. The fourth soundtrack, titled "Story", was released for KBS2's drama Sent from Heaven on July 2. The fifth soundtrack, titled "Stand Up", was released for SBS's drama To the Beautiful You on August 15, with a music video to follow on September 19. Aside from featuring early scenes from the drama series, it also included a guest appearance by TRAX's Jungmo.[unreliable source?] The band-performance version of the music video was unveiled on October 4.[unreliable source?] J-Min and Jungmo performed a special stage on Inkigayo on August 26. Her final soundtrack of 2012, titled "Beautiful Days", was released for KBS2's drama School 2013 on December 11.
In June 2012, J-Min started her musical career with the role of Gloria in the musical Jack the Ripper. The musical ran from June 1 to August 18, 2012, at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul.
J-Min signed a contract with Nayutawave Records (since known as EMI Records) in 2012. She later released the single If You Want on November 21, 2012. Her single Heart Theater was released on March 13, 2013.
In February 2013, J-Min starred in the musical The Three Musketeers as Constance. It ran from February 20 to April 21, 2013, at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul.[unreliable source?]
2014–present: Cross The Border, domestic debut and musical activities
J-Min released her first Japanese album, Cross The Border on January 22, 2014. She also recorded the soundtrack Hero for MBC's drama Miss Korea. On June 19, she made her official Korean debut, performing Hoo on the music program M Countdown and various weekly music programs. Her pre-released single Hoo was released on June 24. Hoo is an acoustic ballad and a re-arrangement of Hero. Following the single, her extended playShine was digitally released on July 18 and physically on July 21. Shine's music video featured Titan and starred SM Rookies' Ji Han-sol.
In 2015, J-Min played Vanessa in the musical In The Heights. She alternated performing the role with actress Oh Soyeon. The musical was produced by SM C&C, a subsidiary of S.M. Entertainment, and ran from September 4 to November 22 at Blue Square.[unreliable source?] In December 2015, J-Min confirmed that she would be playing Yitzhak in the musical Hedwig: New Makeup. The musical ran from March 1 to May 29, 2016, at Hongik University Art Center.
In April 2016, it was announced that J-Min would cast in the musical All Shock Up, performed at the Hongik University Daehangno Art Center Grand Theater from June 17 to August 28, 2016.
She released the single Way Back Home on July 8, 2016, as part of SM Entertainment's project SM Station. The song was composed by Shim Eunji and the music video starred Red Velvet's Yeri. She performed this song for the first time on SM Town Live World Tour V in Osaka.
On August 5, 2016, it was announced that she would release her digital single Ready For Your Love on August 9. Its music video, starring herself and NCT's Johnny, was released on August 9, along with the single. On October 15, she was confirmed to become radio host on Arirang Radio's SoundK for the "musictomusic corner".
In February 2017, J-Min was confirmed to be cast in the musical drama entitled Boys Over Flowers: The Musical. A musical version has previously been performed in Japan. She played the role of Tsukushi (or Geum Jan Di). The musical would run from February 24 to May 7, 2017, in Seoul. On March 17, she announced the release of a single, Alive, on March 20. In October 2017, J-Min was confirmed to return in the pop musical drama All Shock Up and scheduled to run 94 performances at the Hongik University Daehangno Art Center Grand Theater from November 24, 2017, to February 11, 2018.
In January 2018, it was announced that J-Min would return to played as Constance following the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the musical drama The Three Musketeers. In November 2018, she was confirmed to be cast in the musical drama The Days as Geunyeo, scheduled to be performed at the Busan Sohyang Theater Shinhan Card Hall from December 23–30, at the Daejeon Arts Center Art Hall on January 5–6, 2019 and then at the Seoul Blue Square Interpark Hall from February 22, 2019.
In November 2019, J-Min was confirmed to perform as Peggy in the musical A Better Tomorrow at the Hanwha Art Center from December 17, 2019, to March 22, 2020.
In September 2020, she was cast in the romantic-comedy musical Duet as Sonya Walsk. The musical ran from October 23 to January 31, 2021, at KT&G Sangsang Madang Daechi Art Hall.
In June 2021, musical drama Hedwig was announced to return after five years, with the return of J-Min as Itzhak for their fifth season. In November, J-Min collaborated with labelmates BoA, Siwon, Doyoung, Sunny, Taemin, Suho and Wendy as part of SM Town on the song "This is Your Day (for every child, UNICEF)".
In July 2022, she was confirmed to be cast in the musical drama L'art reste playing the role of Hyang-an, performed at Daehangno Dream Art Center 2 on September 6.
In May 2023, she was announced to return as Geunyeo in the musical The Days to celebrate its 10th anniversary, scheduled to be performed at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater from July 12 to September 3, 2023.
In July 2024, she returned to cast in the third season of musical drama Lizzy as Alice Russell. The musical was performed on September 14 at Doosan Art Center Yeongang Hall.
In November 2024, it was announced that she would perform with Hedwig's original author, John Cameron Mitchell, on December 24 and 25 at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall.
J-Min held her first concert, Just J-Min: J-Min's First Concert [To Jellys], on February 2–3, 2025, at Seoul's Gureumarae Small Theater. J-Min starred in the musical drama Hatshepsut, performed on March 11, 2025.
On March 31, 2025, she posted a handwritten note on her social media account, announcing that she had parted ways with SM Entertainment, after working with the company for 26 years.
↑공연의 모든 것 - 플레이DB. www.playdb.co.kr. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
↑Lee Seung-gi (July 4, 2022). 뮤지컬 '라흐헤스트' 김향안 삶 재조명…이지숙 제이민 등 출연[Musical 'Rach Hest' Kim Hyang-an's life re-examined... Starring Lee Ji-sook and J-Min] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022– via Naver.
