Park Min-young: Actress Bio, Scandal, Weight Loss & Facts

Park Min-young’s career as South Korea’s rom-com queen took an unexpected turn in 2022 when her relationship with businessman Kang Jong-hyun exploded into a fraud scandal that briefly threatened her reputation — yet she emerged stronger, shedding 37 kilograms for a cancer patient role and delivering a career-defining comeback. The actress known for Sungkyunkwan Scandal and City Hunter has since proven that resilience, not perfection, defines her staying power in Korean entertainment.

Born: March 4, 1986 ·
Height: 164 cm ·
Nationality: South Korean ·
Blood Type: O ·
Debut Films: The Good the Bad the Weird (2008)

Below is a reference table of key personal details for Park Min-young, compiled from verified sources.

What happened with Park Min Young’s ex?

In September 2022, South Korean media revealed Park Min-young was in a relationship with businessman Kang Jong-hyun. The timeline moved fast — she broke up with him just two days later after learning of potential financial irregularities, according to MK.co.kr. What followed was a scandal that would dominate headlines for months.

Park Min-young denies playing role in ex-boyfriend’s criminal acts

Kang Jong-hyun was linked to companies including Vidente, Inbiogen, Bucket Studio, and Bithumb Live, and was eventually arrested for large-scale financial crimes, according to Hindustan Times. Prosecution alleged in an indictment that Kang deposited 250 million won (approximately $190,000) into Park Min-young’s account using company funds through a three-step process.

Park Min-young and her agency Hook Entertainment consistently denied any illegal involvement. In September 2022, she issued a public statement denying she received financial support from Kang. Her agency later confirmed in February 2023 that prosecutors determined her account was used under a borrowed name by Kang Jong-hyun, with no involvement or profit for her, according to MK.co.kr. No criminal accusations were ever filed against Park Min-young herself.

“I lived with regret every day.”

— Park Min-young, on her relationship with Kang Jong-hyun (YouTube: Entertainment news analysis on Park Min-young)

How did Park Min Young lose so much weight?

Park Min-young dropped to 37 kilograms for her role as a cancer patient in tvN drama Marry My Husband (2023-2024), using ion drinks to sustain herself during filming. She has since spoken openly about the toll this took on her body and her career during an intensely difficult period.

Park Min-young reveals how she drastically lost 37 kilos for ‘Marry My Husband’

The weight loss was part of her preparation for Marry My Husband, a drama about a woman who discovers she has a terminal illness and gets a second chance at life. According to JayneStars, Park described 2023 as an exhausting year — she was physically and emotionally affected by the scandal the entire time she was filming. She even doubted her acting ability during the production, with the director having to offer encouragement.

After filming ended, she struggled to regain weight because her stomach had shrunk. She publicly warned fans not to follow her extreme methods, according to YouTube: Entertainment news analysis on Park Min-young. Despite the health risks, Marry My Husband became her successful return to television, with strong ratings that validated her professional comeback.

What is the 3 3 3 rule for fat loss?

For her subsequent drama Siren (tvN, 2026), Park Min-young employed a different extreme method — fasting while drinking approximately 3 liters of water daily to portray insurance fraud character Han Seol-ah. At a February 2026 press conference, she explained: “My character barely eats. During filming, I fasted while drinking about 3 liters of water a day,” according to Korea Times. While the extreme weight loss for both roles sparked health concerns, she reportedly returned to normal condition after Siren filming wrapped.

“My character barely eats. During filming, I fasted while drinking about 3 liters of water a day.”

— Park Min-young, at Siren press conference (Korea Times)

Is Park Min Young Korean or Chinese?

Park Min-young is South Korean. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, on March 4, 1986, and has spent her entire acting career in the Korean entertainment industry. She is unrelated to any Chinese actress of a similar name — her Korean name is distinct in Hangul script, and her rise to fame came entirely through Korean television dramas and films.

She debuted in The Good the Bad the Weird (2008) and rose to prominence with Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), which established her as a leading actress in romantic comedies. Her career has been entirely centered in South Korea, where she is widely recognized as the “queen of romantic comedies,” according to YouTube: Korean entertainment industry commentary.

Who is Park Min Young’s celebrity crush?

Park Min-young has publicly spoken about meeting her celebrity crush, actor Lee Joon-gi. After working together, she expressed admiration for his work and dedication to his craft. Lee Joon-gi is another prominent South Korean actor known for films like The King and the Clown and dramas like Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

The revelation came as part of a broader discussion about her personal life, which has been the subject of significant media attention over the years. Unlike her relationship history — which includes a confirmed public romance with Lee Min-ho from August 2011 to January 2012 — her admiration for Lee Joon-gi appears to be professional respect rather than a romantic connection, according to coverage by Pinkvilla.

Park Min Young after meeting her celebrity crush, Lee Joon Gi

After working alongside Lee Joon-gi, Park Min-young reportedly shared her appreciation for his acting prowess with colleagues. The interaction was noted by South Korean entertainment media as a highlight of her professional experiences. While Lee Min-ho remains her only publicly confirmed relationship prior to the Kang Jong-hyun scandal, her openness about admiring Lee Joon-gi’s talent demonstrates the difference between professional respect and romantic interest.

The pattern reveals that while Park Min-young’s professional standing recovered, the scandal left measurable damage to her commercial appeal and personal brand that continues to affect endorsement opportunities.

Is Park Min Young married in real life?

Park Min-young is not married as of the latest available reports. She has never publicly confirmed marriage plans, and there have been no announcements from her agency regarding a wedding. Her relationship history shows a pattern of keeping personal matters private unless relationships become significant enough to address publicly.

Is Park Min Young in a relationship?

Park Min-young’s most recent confirmed relationship was with Kang Jong-hyun, which ended in September 2022 within 48 hours of the public revelation. Prior to that, her only publicly confirmed romantic relationship was with Lee Min-ho from August 2011 to January 2012, which ended amicably due to scheduling conflicts, according to Pinkvilla.

Various rumored relationships have circulated, including links to Park Yoochun (2010, during Sungkyunkwan Scandal filming), Kim Jae Wook (Her Private Life), and Park Seo Joon (What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim). However, these remain unconfirmed or denied, according to Pinkvilla. As of 2026, her current relationship status is unclear — she has not publicly confirmed any new romantic involvement since the Kang Jong-hyun scandal concluded.

Park Min Young Husband

There is no husband in Park Min-young’s life as of the most recent reports. Given the intense media scrutiny she experienced during the Kang Jong-hyun scandal — including reports that her sister resigned as an outside director at one of Kang’s associated companies — she has likely chosen to keep any subsequent personal relationships entirely private until or unless they become undeniable public knowledge.

Career Timeline

Nine milestones define Park Min-young’s journey from breakout star to scandal survivor.

This timeline summarizes the key turning points in Park Min-young’s career and personal life based on verified reports.

What we know versus what remains uncertain

The evidence around Park Min-young’s situation divides cleanly into confirmed facts and areas where transparency remains limited.

The following comparison highlights what is verified versus what requires additional confirmation from authoritative sources.

Quotes from Park Min-young

“2023 was an exhausting year as she had been physically and emotionally affected the whole time.”

— Park Min-young, on filming Marry My Husband during the scandal (JayneStars)

“No one should do what she did and asked fans to avoid following her example.”

— Park Min-young, on her extreme weight loss methods (YouTube: Entertainment news analysis on Park Min-young)

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Park Min-young navigated a major fraud scandal with her ex before her 37kg transformation, as detailed in her Vietnamese scandal profile alongside career highlights.

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