Kang Mina Shines in Netflix's 'GIRIGO': A Rising Star in YA Horror

Singer and actress Kang Mina recently shared her thoughts on the reactions to her latest work.

In a recent interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kang Mina discussed her role in the Netflix series 'GIRIGO' directed by Park Yoon-seo.

'GIRIGO' is a YA horror series that follows high school students who receive sudden death predictions due to a cursed wish-granting app called 'GIRIGO.' Kang Mina plays the role of Im Nari, a character who grew up in a wealthy environment and attracts attention wherever she goes due to her idol-like glamorous appearance.

Since its release on the 24th of last month, 'GIRIGO' has recorded approximately 2.8 million views (calculated by dividing viewing hours by total runtime) and ranked 4th in the global TOP 10 non-English shows category. It has entered the TOP 10 in 37 countries, including South Korea, Mexico, India, Malaysia, Thailand, UAE, and Turkey, receiving a warm reception.

Regarding the reactions after the release, Kang Mina mentioned that the response from Park Ji-hyun, with whom she is filming her next project 'Going to Work Tomorrow,' was particularly memorable. She said, "The show was released at 5 PM, and Ji-hyun sent me a supportive message saying, 'I'm waiting for GIRIGO.' It was so touching, and after watching it, she said, 'Why are you so good at being sassy? You're really different,' which I remember the most," she laughed.

Kang Mina also spoke about memorable reactions, saying, "I remember comments saying, 'This is different from the Mina we knew.' I thought that even if I didn't aim for it, I could appear that way to some extent because of the villain role."

Her passion for acting was evident. Kang Mina expressed, "I found myself talking a lot without realizing it. It shows how much I love and am passionate about acting. I feel proud when someone notices the small details I worked on, and I appreciate the feedback that my acting has improved." She added, "These aspects seem to be the driving force that keeps me acting."

Reporter Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr