(G)I-DLE’s Minnie Flaunts Generosity with 10 Million Won Flex “Inviting Friends to Concerts”
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 21. Hyoyeon remarked, “Your sexy voice suits it perfectly. I wanted to see your solo sooner. It seems like it’s coming out late. But in some ways, this timing… Might be the best timing.”
Over a meal of yukhoe (raw beef), 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 drinking talk show, and my face color completely changed from start to finish. Fans thought it was cute.”
Hyoyeon also congratulated Minnie on (G)I-DLE’s grand prize. The group received the Record of the Year award at the 2024 Melon Music Awards (MMA 2024). Reflecting on the moment, Minnie said, “I cried a lot. I was thinking ‘No way’, but when we won, we all started crying. As a self-producing group, it was especially meaningful to receive the Record award. That day, we announced our contract renewal. Our CEO came to the waiting room, and we all signed the renewal together before going on stage.”
Hyoyeon brought up the curiosity surrounding the group’s contract renewal. She 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?”, referencing leader Soyeon’s performance during (G)I-DLE’s world tour in Seoul last August. During her solo stage, Soyeon altered the lyrics to say, “Who can stop me when the contract ends in November?” This sparked rumors that the group might disband, worrying fans.
However, during the MMA 2024 acceptance speech, Soyeon clarified, “There were rumors about the group disbanding because my contract and the members’ contracts were ending. But all five of us have decided to renew together. We talked it through before coming on stage.”
Recalling that moment, Minnie expressed gratitude to Soyeon, “People were really curious. I was so thankful to Soyeon. As a leader, she explained everything so well and convinced each member individually about continuing together. She’s so cute and baby-like, but when it comes to work, she’s sharp and focused. When we record, she’s relentless.”
Minnie also shared a jaw-dropping story about her generosity toward her friends in Thailand. “I have so many friends in Thailand—about 18 best friends. When we gather, I try to pay for everything, but now they won’t let me. They’re 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.”
She revealed that she went above and beyond to invite her friends to her concert in Thailand. “The year before last, I invited 80 people, and last year, I invited 100. The company only gives us four tickets per person, but I spent my own money. We hold concerts to make money, but I ended up spending it all. Overseas concerts cost more, so tickets are more expensive. Altogether, I spent 10 million won, but it’s just once a year, so I thought it was worth it.”
Minnie’s wealthy background has been well-documented. Her father used to be the vice-president of the first bank in Thailand, and her grandparents run a resort. Her eldest brother works in banking, while her second brother is an architect who runs a bar.