SOURCE: [뮤:터뷰③]강미나 “아이오아이와 너무 친해..완전체 불참은 최선이었어요”
Actress Kang Mina shared her honest feelings about not participating in IOI's full-group activities.
Now in her 10th year since debut, Kang Mina has been active in various fields, including group activities with IOI, Gugudan, and also acting. While IOI reunites as a full-group for their 10th debut anniversary, Kang Mina decided to focus on her acting career despite her disappointment. How does Kang Mina feel now, a decade into her career?
On the 29th, Kang Mina met with Herald Muse at a cafe in Seoul, stating, "Honestly, I don't know the full details of the IOI project. I heard it's been in preparation since the second half of last year. I just finished filming an unreleased drama a month ago. There were also promotional schedules in between. I felt it would be difficult to participate in IOI's activities, so I thought it was best to convey my decision to the members."
However, she emphasized that she is still very close with the members, saying, "We're actually so close that we already know we're supporting one another. Even just a single like on social media makes me feel that they're watching and rooting for me. The members also leave comments on my posts, which I'm so grateful for, and I support them as well. If the timing works, I'd like to make a surprise visit to IOI's practice, but since I don't know any details, that might be difficult."
Many IOI's members are also active as actresses, including Kim Sejeong, Jung Chaeyeon, Kim Doyeon, and Kim Sohye. When asked if she discusses acting with these fellow members, she laughed and said, "We don't really talk about acting. When we meet, we usually talk about things like, 'How is your diet?', 'I heard this place is good,' or 'There's a nice wine bar. Let's go there together.'"
Having debuted in 2016, Kang Mina is now marking her 10th year in the entertainment industry. She said, "What I've felt most this year is wondering whether I can proudly say that I'm in my 10th year since debut. I'm not confident yet, but I'm trying to become an actress worthy of that milestone. I've looked back on the past often, but now I think more about how I should move forward."
Kang Mina also described 'If Wishes Could Kill' as a project that could be a turning point in her career, saying, "It doesn't feel real yet, but I'm very grateful that many people have watched it since its release. I think it could be a turning point for me. Those who like shamanism, horror, or gore genres will most likely enjoy this show. It's a project that feels like unraveling something ambiguous like a game where you're confused about what is real and what isn't."
Reflecting on her acting career, Kang Mina said, "Acting is very difficult and I constantly hit walls. I often feel unsure about my acting performance and I just kind of wing it while saying 'I don't know.' But when something deep inside me comes out unexpectedly, I feel a sense of achievement and charm. When I talk about my projects with such affection in interviews like this, I realize that I truly love acting. I believe I have filmed every single project with love."
