2NE1’s Minzy quits school

2ne1_minzy_20090716.jpg

Following in the footsteps of Big Bang in ways other than music.It seems like young pop idols are just dropping out like flies.

It turns out 2NE1’s maknae, Gong Min-ji has decided not to pursue a high school career. Being only fifteen, she will graduate from middle school, but with the rising fame of 2NE1, Minzy doesn’t need that unnecessary distraction of school. Why would you if you’re in a chart topping girl group?

Her Big Bang sunbaes, squinty eyed Dae-sung and baby Seung-ri, also both quit high school to concentrate on their music career. Last year, Dae-sung passed his high school qualification exam, and recently it was just announced that Seung-ri passed them as well. Minzy says she plans to do the same thing.

In the face of fame, education becomes an afterthought. Out of the rising girl groups, only 4minute’s Hyun-ah and So-hyun have publicly declared that they actively try to keep up with their studies and attend classes. It wouldn’t be a surprise though if they suddenly declare they’re too cool for school in the near future.

126 Responses to “2NE1’s Minzy quits school”


  1. 1 yuri July 18, 2009 at 6:14 am

    WOW
    shes only 15!?
    did NOT know that….
    i dont see any reason why she dropped out…
    isnt it better to at least have a education? ._.

  2. 3 ushik0 July 18, 2009 at 7:31 am

    It’s not that she ISN’T going to get an education. I think popseoul “colors” their articles a little too much. She’s taking her High school qualification exams which will still earn her a high school diploma and allow her to be eligible to enroll in college should she choose to do so. She’s not stupid. By taking the exams, she still ensures her education while having the opportunity to concentrate on her career at the moment.

    Everyone needs to read the article closer. Daesung and Seungri also took their exams and both have a high school diploma.

    • 4 gravity01 July 18, 2009 at 10:54 am

      right on! :)

      i think most of us are getting this story wrong…

      minzy just decided to NOT ATTEND high school as she will focus most of her time with her current career. but it does not mean that she will not be getting a high school diploma. she still wants to finish high school. she just does not have to attend or go to school anymore and report to class like regular students do. it’s like home study.

      then she will try to get an examination to get the HS diploma itself.

      IMO, they had to make that decision because it will be physically, mentally and emotionally difficult for her to go to school and attend activities with the 2NE1 group at the same time.

      i just feel bad for her because she will not be able to experience life in high school. they usually say that a student’s best years are during high school. it’s the transition from being a teen to early adulthood, so you get to experience a lot of things. you get to build good relationships with friends and classmates. wow, i so miss high school!!! :)

      i bet her high school teachers would flunk her in classes if she will incur a lot of absences due to her 2NE1 activities, right? so, with the current situation, it is a wiser decision to just be home-schooled and take the HS diploma test.

      to minzy, hope she will have all the strength she needs to do well with her career and pass her exam! you can do it! :)

      ♥PinaySinceBirth♥

  3. 5 teishoumuses July 18, 2009 at 8:33 am

    ushik0 is right. things are different in Korea, and most other Asian countries, as compared to the US.

  4. 7 joia July 18, 2009 at 10:28 am

    she’s cute in the pic!

  5. 8 yuki July 18, 2009 at 10:57 am

    i think its cool they have flexible education. theres so many different circumstances now.

  6. 9 ajstew July 18, 2009 at 11:35 am

    Korea highschool is nothing like highschool in America. In highschools in Korea you are expected to stay in school all day and until late in the evening studying. Also socially it is nothing the same as well. You’re not going to miss out on ‘the best days of your life’ by not attending a Korean highschool. Good for them.

  7. 10 lala July 18, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    she looks cute in that picture

  8. 11 teemkim93 July 18, 2009 at 1:15 pm

    oh woww LOL shes younger than me and she’s done with school…
    if only i was in her shoes
    =) hahaha

  9. 12 YG July 18, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    booooooo! why drop out school?
    i appreciate singers more if they showed they actually have an educated brain
    its better to finish ur schooling in the early years of fame since afterwards it would be too hectic

  10. 14 xawesomexmex July 18, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    I knew that already but I STILL ADMIRE HER ♥

  11. 15 nunu July 18, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    Come on! It’s only High School! Why not just finish it?!

  12. 16 dd July 18, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    dang i think she should at least finish high school. i mean she’s great and everything but the entertainment world is very unstable. it’s like one day you’re in and the next day you’re out. so i think she should have stuck with education at least thru high school

    • 17 Akamekraze July 19, 2009 at 3:15 am

      Well you’re right about it being unstable but right now, she has a very hectic schedule! She can still study afterwards when she has time!

  13. 18 ahuh July 18, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    no excuses for not finishing high school!

  14. 19 kimberiseu July 18, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    We have the same age, I’m turning 16 on September. We have a different educational system, and I’m already graduating from High School. But I don’t understand why can’t she just at least finish High School? Education is important. Yes, sure she can still take the test high school qualification exam but it is still not the same. A test can’t completely cover everything you will learn in school. Education is very important especially for star like her because at least after their career they can still do something because they have the right education. But its her choice. I just don’t agree with it. YG is a very irresponsible company. Its like their just waiting for their artists to finish Middle School (cause it is required there, right?) then they’ll make them quit school. Very weird.

  15. 20 pham July 18, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    she’s really great..dancing and singing are her specialties..
    hmm. hope she’ll finish her studies.

  16. 21 miira-chaan July 18, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    well..who can go to school with that hectic sched of hers.?…

    but i hope her choice won’t go to nothing..

  17. 22 Akamekraze July 19, 2009 at 3:13 am

    Well if you had to take up your busy schedule (not even get sleep!) you probably wouldn’t be able to get to school and glasses! Unless you’re saying just give it up 2NE!, I don’t really wanna see your talent, I juz wanna see you study…..

  18. 23 ushik0 July 19, 2009 at 6:23 am

    I got more clarification on what High School Qualification Exams are for those of you who don’t know:

    “In Korea, if you give up going to high school, college or university you can basically study independently to take this qualification exam which will allow you to pursue a job in the future (usually as a lawyer) if you pass it. Many celebrities choose this path because its easier than going to school, given their hectic schedules.”
    -ygladies forum

    so again, she’s not giving up education all together. a lot of you are saying her decision is worse than sohee and sunmi of wondergirls, but i don’t really think its that different. all of them are still going to get an education and have back-up plans when the fame dies down.

  19. 24 sj July 19, 2009 at 10:21 am

    just support her whatever decision she make

  20. 25 Joann July 19, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    I just hope she doesn’t end up like Solbi (not saying Solbi is stupid…)

  21. 26 La_Selva July 19, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    Education is important.
    Fame isn’t forever or predictable.
    Most money in Music Co’s go to everyone else BUT the artist so the artist won’t always be “rich”.
    (Minji isn’t that famous to where she can put off school because she’s in such high deamand… and from what I know, there are celebrity-friendly schools in Korea.)
    A highschool education prepares your for college.
    Highschool, in Korea, has an entrance exam (which chooses what colelge you get into).
    College helps determine your career path.
    College is a good Pan B, y’know, just in case.

    This is 2009. You can’t get away with not having a college education nowdays unless you’re in the business of entertainment and really successful or don’t plan on making a lot of money (or enough to live comortably).

    I hope she manages to finsh it somehow, because dropping out is pretty lame and foolish.

  22. 27 dstorted_out July 19, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    she’ll be home schooled so basically she can still manage to finish her studies. i get the point of those who say that she should have finished HS but being a pop act her schedule is really demanding and hectic, sure there are some celebs who can juggle both stardom and studies but let’s also keep in mind that not all of them can do that! i’d rather support her decision than reading an article that she’s hospitalized because of physical exhaustion due to her busy sched. and re: how stable showbiz career is, yes there is no stability in show business but im + she can continue learning without being “physically” present in school, im pretty sure she’ll have a fallback in case her entertainment career is not active anymore. i didn’t lose my respect for minji just because of her decision. i still support her, she’s still young but im sure she’s mindful of her decisions.

  23. 28 minjoongie July 20, 2009 at 1:05 am

    why do korean agency use a little girl under 17 as their stars?
    she’s not mature enough to decide her education.

  24. 29 Minzy's Slave July 20, 2009 at 10:08 am

    This is one trend that needs to stop. High school equivalency does not get your into college and the careers of these stars are so shortlived that they need to think long term, not short term. Sad that a slave is smarter than his master.

  25. 30 chloe July 22, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    cool… B-)

  26. 31 KARA is OVERRATED July 22, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    ol would any of you teenie boppers argues this much if it was seung ri or daesung from big bang?

    you would’ve been like :” awww hes so hawt who cares?, he makes better music anyways” lol you fans are son crazy

    i say follow your heart minzi! <3 you decide for yourself who gives about haters? FUDGE THEM ALL OFF with your amazing dancing

  27. 32 lobidoo July 22, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    this what happen when they hired high school ppl to be an artist, the company want to sell their product and gain more money,i knew hs student are young and fresh but their brain are still developing so please stop hiring those under 18yrs old teen…doesnt mean u success now u will success nxt time atleast u have brain to do something else…if music industry still continue this sort of trend they have to manage this poor lil artists in a better way instead of giving them hard time till have to drop out from hs. if u want to bring out a quality artist, take care of their talent and studies. nothing is impossible

  28. 33 Rin July 23, 2009 at 4:35 am

    Umm. No offense, but 2NE1 isn’t that talented to have her drop out. >.>

  29. 35 ruji July 23, 2009 at 11:09 am

    It’s really different in Korea and here in the Philippines… Because I’m sixteen (16) and i’m in college,, in Korea she’s 15 and she’s supposed to be in high school… anyway, it is a good decision as well… rather than flunking school she can do what he sunbae’s did.. but as for me studies should be her priority because someday in the future if the limelight days are gone it would be a loss if her former classmates are college and she’s still in high school..^^ well, people have different perceptions and this is mine^^
    LOVE 2NE1~!

  30. 36 rellalove July 24, 2009 at 10:37 am

    That’s why this isn’t good to call them ‘idols’ if they’re dropping out of school. *just kidding
    Just because she dropped out doesn’t make her another person with no brains. I mean, stupid.

    She has a career. And 2ne1 is IT. I don’t really know why you make such a big deal of this. As long as they can read and write, they’re fine.

    What ^Rin said is quite true, in my opinion. I like 2ne1 because they have brought a new style into the music industry but .. the group have some flaws. (and it’s not Minzy or CL) I just hope in they future they somwhow fix it. But I guess not because I’ll be frank, the problem is Dara’s too cute of a voice and Bom’s. I’m not saying they’re not good singers but their voices don’t really blend along with CL and Minzy’s. That’s my say only. No Hating :)

    HWAITING!

  31. 37 pham July 24, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    i have a crush on her..im getting lesbo to her..hahah.

    i really like her moves.

    ..well,its not like she’s giving up her studies..its different in korea

  32. 38 danceswithwolves July 28, 2009 at 1:15 pm

    Lol, money well spent, drop out of school, make a few million won and then pay thousands of won to get the best people to teach you on how to cram and past the test, without actually having to know anything and the time saved by it.

  33. 39 jdshfkds July 29, 2009 at 1:03 am

    Aww… Why, minzy?

    I still think they shouldn’t do be dropping out of high school. 15 year old is like the prime time to learn. Our brain has “best used before…” time limit you know.

  34. 40 JackBlack July 30, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    shes probably going to fail in life. What a loser

    • 41 Aurora August 31, 2009 at 11:24 am

      What do you mean ‘fail in life’?! Just because she dropped out of high school, doesn’t mean she’ll fail in life. Sure, the entertainment business is unstable and she won’t always be famous, but at least she’s still studying for a high school diploma. That way, when she isn’t as famous anymore she’ll still have somthing to back her up. Unlike some other’s who drop out without getting a high school diploma. They hit rockbottom, hard.

  35. 42 shawn xiong August 27, 2009 at 4:45 am

    well i wouldn’t blame her either because if you have a career you want to accomplished than go for it…I would have done the same if it was me

  36. 43 shannen August 29, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    yoboseyo!!!!!

  37. 44 ♥shAira♥ August 31, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    uR lyk a angel!!♥_♥

  38. 45 2ne1 FAN :) October 3, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    oh, i do the same thing..
    hehe yeah, but minzy need to learn
    few things that she doesnt know..
    well, i cant believe minzy is just 15..
    shes the youngest in 2ne1, HOW CUTE..
    good luck minzy…

  39. 46 iris23 October 11, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    wow….
    i cant still get over the fact that she’s fifteen!
    she must be VERY talented…
    Go, MINZY!

  40. 47 addin2thenoise October 13, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    im shocked 2 hear tat shes now graduatin middle skool…im 15 but i graduated middle school wen i was 13…then again i live in the us…

  41. 48 jasmine October 17, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    her great grandmother is the worlds best dynasty-thingy dancer!! wow she sure comes from a fresh background. O.o
    no wonder she’s under the limelight even she’s only 15!
    2NE1 magnae, Minzy looks cute~

  42. 49 YayA November 14, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    Cutie minzy……….
    Lov u………
    MuakS……………


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