‘Tteokbokki Heir’ Han Mingi Speaks Out on Nepo Baby Claims Ahead of K-pop Debut

Han Mingi is a tteokbokki empire heir.
He firmly denied paying for his debut.
He is practicing hard to prove himself.

The world of K-Pop trainee reveals is always abuzz with excitement, but the recent introduction of Han Mingi by Modenberry Korea has served up a particularly unique story. The buzz isn't just about his training pedigree or his visuals, it’s about his last name and the massive family empire behind it.

Han Mingi has been unveiled as a direct descendant of the founders of Shinjeon Tteokbokki, South Korea's most representative and sprawling chain of rice cake restaurants. This instantly catapulted him into the spotlight, transforming him from just another trainee into a figure of immense public fascination and, almost inevitably, intense scrutiny.

With this newfound attention came a wave of instant criticism and labeling. As soon as his family background was made public, a segment of netizens and K-Pop fans were quick to brand him with the dreaded "nepo baby" tag, speculating that his path to debut was paved by his family's wealth and influence rather than his own talent and hard work. So, what's the real story behind the trainee who is literally the heir to a tteokbokki kingdom? Let's dive in and unpack the details that have everyone talking.

Han Mingi: The K-Pop Trainee from the Tteokbokki Dynasty

Modenberry Korea made a strategic move by officially introducing Han Mingi as the first trainee for their planned new boy group, which is slated to debut in the second half of 2026. The agency released a statement outlining their vision.

“We are planning to debut a new boy group in the second half of 2026, and among the trainees, Ha Mingi will begin communicating with the public through various channels first."

This early introduction is a clear sign of the confidence they have in him to generate pre-debut buzz.

But what really set the rumor mill on fire were the details that followed. A company representative confirmed that Mingi was born in 2007 and is the grandson of Ha Sung Ho, who was initially identified as the founder and chairman of the Shinjeon Tteokbokki empire.

For context, Shinjeon Tteokbokki is a behemoth in the Korean food industry, with a staggering 800 store locations within South Korea and 18 more globally. The agency also acknowledged the strong support system behind him.

“The Shinjeon Tteokbokki family has been giving their full support to Ha Mingi’s debut preparations, and we’re grateful for that.”

Beyond his privileged background, Mingi boasts an impressive trainee resume, having previously trained under the prestigious SM Entertainment. Combined with a height of 185 cm and striking visuals, he has all the makings of a star that agencies dream of. In his own statement, Mingi expressed his earnest aspirations.

“I’m thrilled at the thought of connecting with fans through various platforms. Even though I’m still a trainee, I want to grow into an artist who can reach people with sincere music," Han Mingi said.

Is His Debut Proof of a "Nepo Baby" Narrative?

The immediate backlash and nepotism accusations were perhaps inevitable. However, Mingi didn't shy away from the controversy. In a bold and transparent move, he made his first public appearance on the YouTube channel One Mic to address the swirling rumors head-on.

Han Mingi began by clearing up a key point of confusion about his family tree. He clarified that he is actually the nephew of the current CEO, not the grandson of the founder as initially reported. Modenberry Korea issued a separate correction, admitting they had made an error in their initial announcement by labeling Ha Seong Ho as both CEO and founder, which led to the public's confusion. Mingi explained that his grandmother was the original founder of the brand.

Han Mingi also shared poignant details about his upbringing, revealing that he lived with his grandmother, who was initially skeptical of his dreams.

“My grandmother told me, ‘Why are you choosing such a difficult path instead of studying? Studying is the easiest thing to do,’” he recalled.

However, she eventually came around to support his passion, imparting a crucial piece of advice.

“My grandmother also told me, ‘Always be humble.’”

While acknowledging his comfortable upbringing, Mingi emphasized that his parents worked hard to keep him grounded, teaching him that his family name didn't entitle him to anything.

Most importantly, he directly confronted the explosive allegation that his family paid for his debut spot. He denied these claims sternly, offering a powerful rebuttal to his detractors.

“People are saying I invested money into the company, but that’s absolutely not true. I personally applied, had meetings, and auditioned. I’ve never spent money in this industry. The only money I spent was on tuition fees for acting classes. Everything else, I did it on my own. I think I’ve done at least 200 auditions,” Han Mingi stated.

In a revealing twist, he shared that Modenberry Korea was completely unaware of his family connections until he was already a trainee under their system. Once they found out, he says their expectations of him rose significantly.

“I’m practicing hard to live up to those expectations,” Mingi added.

While his debut is confirmed for 2026, it remains unknown what kind of boy group Han Mingi will debut in, including its concept, genre, and style, leaving fans eager to see how his journey unfolds.

Watch Han Mingi's full confession here:

Source: Koreaboo, YouTube/원마이크