On January 22, Minnie appeared as a guest on Hyoyeon’s YouTube channel “Hyo’s Level Up”.
During the show, Hyoyeon congratulated Minnie on her first solo album “HER”, released on January 21st. Hyoyeon noted, “Your sexy voice fits perfectly. I wanted to see your solo first. Looks like he’ll be out late. But in a way, this timing… might be the best time.”
Over a meal of yukhoe (raw meat), jokbal (pig’s trotters) and red wine, the two artists delved into various topics. Minnie revealed: “I used to diet, but now I can maintain my weight, so I eat comfortably. When I drink alcohol, my face turns red. I once appeared on a talk show about drinking and the color of my face changed completely from start to finish. Fans thought it was cute.”
Hyoyeon also congratulated Minnie on (G)I-DLE’s first prize. The group received the Record of the Year award at the Melon Music Awards 2024 (MMA 2024). Reflecting on the moment, Minnie said, “I cried a lot. I thought ‘No way,’ but when we won, we all started crying. Being a self-produced group, it was particularly significant to receive the Record award. That day we announced the renewal of the contract. Our CEO came to the waiting room and we all signed the renewal together before going on stage.“
Hyoyeon raised curiosity about the group’s contract renewal. He said “We were all wondering if (G)I-DLE would renew their contracts. Didn’t you make it seem like the concert was your last?,” referring to leader Soyeon’s performance during (G)I-DLE’s world tour in Seoul last August. During her solo phase, Soyeon changed the lyrics to say: “Who can stop me when my contract expires in November?This has sparked rumors that the group might disband, worrying fans.
However, during her MMA 2024 acceptance speech, Soyeon clarified: “There were rumors about the group disbanding because my contract and those of the members were about to expire. But all five of us decided to renew together. We talked about it before going on stage.”
Remembering that moment, Minnie expressed gratitude to Soyeon: “People were really curious. I was so grateful to Soyeon. As a leader, he explained everything very well and convinced each member individually to continue together. She’s so cute and childish, but when it comes to work she’s sharp and focused. When we record, it’s relentless.”
Minnie also shared a stunning story about her generosity towards her friends in Thailand. “I have so many friends in Thailand, about 18 best friends. When we get together, I try to pay for everything, but now they won’t let me. They are so quick to stop me that if I say I’m going to the bathroom someone follows me to make sure I don’t pay. We always end up splitting the bill equally.”
He revealed that he went out of his way to invite his friends to his concert in Thailand. “Last year I invited 80 people, and last year I invited 100. The company only gives us four tickets per person, but I spent my money. We do concerts to make money, but in the end I spent it all. Concerts abroad cost more, so tickets are more expensive. I spent 10 million won in total, but only once a year, so I thought it was worth it.”
Minnie’s rich background has been well documented. His father was vice president of Thailand’s first bank and his grandparents run a resort. His older brother works in banking, while his second brother is an architect who runs a bar.
