Let’s talk about actress Shin Min Ah, one of the female Gumihos (Nine-tailed Foxes) we have in the history of K-dramas.  

You guessed right, my first series of Shin Min-a was ‘My Girlfriend is a Gumiho,’ where I learned about the Gumiho myths for the first time and it was one series that made me follow up the other series on Nine-tailed foxes.

Shin Min-a is undoubtedly one of the versatile actresses we see in K-dramas. I mean, apart from her beautiful face, her acting skills have a lot to say about her as well.

Let’s not even talk about how she entered the entertainment industry in 1998 and is currently 40 years old. She has made an accolade-worthy name for herself, and I am sure you can testify to that fact.

Since a new series has recently brought her to the spotlight, here are 5 series of Shin Min-a you should see.

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (Nine-tailed Fox)

Synopsis: Chae Dae Wong, an aspiring actor, unwillingly releases a Gumiho, a legendary nine-tailed fox, from her centuries-old prison. He runs away terrified and ends up injuring himself badly, but she saves his life and asks to stay by his side.

Of course, this was definitely not her first series because she started acting in the year 2000. However, I’ll pick this as her first spotlight because I just couldn’t get enough of the drama. Watch Shin Min-a portray a charming Gumiho who was sealed in a painting for 500 years. Although this might be old, watching it is definitely worth the throwback.

 Arang and the Magistrate

Synopsis: The series follows a young woman named Arang (Shin Min-a) who was murdered, becomes a ghost, and enlists the help of a magistrate named Eun Oh (Lee Jun Ki) to find the truth behind her death.

'Arang and the Magistrate' is the only historical drama here, and also the only one she has featured in so far. She plays the role of a ghost who could not find rest after being killed unjustly, and teams up with a newly appointed magistrate who can hear spirits and see them to unravel the mystery behind her death. Even though it is not the typical palace power struggle drama that we are used to, Shin Min-a’s depiction of the character made the 20 episodes it aired worthy of viewing.

Oh My Venus

Synopsis: A lawyer in her thirties coming out of a long relationship decides to regain her figure and health after meeting a renowned personal trainer who obsesses with leading a healthy lifestyle after suffering a serious injury in his childhood.

Oh My Venus was the first Shin Min-ah series for me and even as a newbie, I enjoyed every second, minute, and hour of it. Her swift shift and balance between humor and vulnerability had me applauding her every time. Let’s talk about how she also embodies the romantic chemistry with the lead so well, too. She could rival Park Min Young in romantic characterization.

 Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Synopsis: A big-city dentist opens up a practice in a close-knit seaside village, home to a charming jack-of-all-trades who is her polar opposite in every way. Yoon Hye-Jin (Shin Min-a) works as a dentist. She is mostly a realist, but because of her rightfulness, which is only a tiny part of her mind, her life changes.

In this series, which has its settings in a village countryside, she characterizes a dentist who had to leave a job in the city and move to the countryside. I think we witnessed one of the best chemistry between K-Drama leads in this drama.  

Our Blues

Synopsis: The series revolves around the sweet and bitter lives of people at the end, climax, or beginning of life and depicts their stories in an omnibus format against the backdrop of Jeju Island.

Starring as the female lead in this series that has many casts, she depicts a single mum with a child who came to Jeju to work. It was nice seeing her single mum role in a relatable light (not only for single mums but generally).  

If you have already watched any of these series, especially the first and No Gain No Love, then I am sure Shin Min-a has already won your heart in any of them. Some other interesting series she starred in include Beautiful Days, A Love to Kill, and Lucifer.

Have you seen ‘No Gain No Love’ already? Would you mind sharing your thoughts on it and Shin Min-a’s characterization in the comments?