4Minute’s Nam Ji-hyun (born January 9, 1990) is 36 years old in January 2026, is unmarried with no children, did not appear in Squid Game, and is now acting again under her birth name after previously promoting as Son Ji-hyun.
Profile (Updated 2026): Her Age, Real Name, and Why People Get Confused
Nam Ji-hyun’s profile in 2026 looks simple on the surface, but many fans still get confused because her name changed in the past and because other actresses share the same name. Her current legal and working name is Nam Ji-hyun (남지현), and in 2026 she is fully using it again while building her acting career. She was born on January 9, 1990, which makes her 36 years old as of January 2026, and this is the Nam Ji-hyun who was the leader of the K-pop group 4Minute. The confusion often starts when people search her name online and see different profiles, different ages, and different drama filmographies, even though they are not looking at the same person.
Her stage-name history is the key detail that explains why the internet still mixes information. From 2009 to 2016, she promoted as Nam Ji-hyun, widely recognized as the leader of 4Minute. Then from 2017 to 2021, she used the name Son Ji-hyun (손지현) after legally changing her surname to her mother’s surname, because she wanted a fresh start and hoped to step away from the strong “idol image” while she built credibility as an actress. Later, from 2022 to 2026 (present), she returned to Nam Ji-hyun after signing with FN Entertainment, choosing to embrace her past rather than hide it. This timeline matters because many search results still show old credits under “Son Ji-hyun,” while newer acting updates appear under “Nam Ji-hyun,” making it easy for casual readers to think there are multiple careers when it is actually the same person.
4Minute Era: Who Was the Leader of 4Minute?
Many fans still ask who really led 4Minute, especially because the group was famous for powerful performances and a strong “center” image. The real answer is clear: Nam Ji-hyun was the undisputed leader of 4Minute, and she also held key performance roles inside the team. Even though Hyuna was often the most visible member to the general public due to her popularity and center position, visibility is not the same as leadership. Leadership in idol groups usually means guiding practice, handling group communication, and helping manage the team’s emotional balance during stressful schedules, and Nam Ji-hyun was chosen for exactly those reasons—her maturity, stability, and ability to mediate group dynamics.
During the 4Minute era, Nam Ji-hyun was known not only as leader but also as a lead dancer and vocalist, and she built a strong variety-show image that fans still remember today. She was often highlighted for her “glamorous” visuals and for impressive flexibility skills, including ballet-based movements and splits that stood out in entertainment programs. These moments helped her become recognizable to audiences who might not have followed every 4Minute release closely, and they created a lasting public memory of her as someone athletic, disciplined, and performance-ready—qualities that also connect naturally to her later education and acting choices.
“Nam Ji-hyun 4Minute Squid Game” Keyword Explained (Truth Check)
The keyword “Nam Ji-hyun 4Minute Squid Game” appears online a lot, but the truth is straightforward: it is a mistaken identity problem, not a real casting fact. In other words, the idea that 4Minute’s Nam Ji-hyun appeared in the Netflix series is a false positive, likely created by search engines and social platforms mixing people who share the same name. This happens frequently in Korean entertainment because certain names are common, and international audiences may not realize there are different individuals with identical romanization.
To make it clear, 4Minute’s Nam Ji-hyun (born 1990) was not a cast member of Squid Game Season 2, which was released in December 2024. The confusion grows because there is also a younger rookie actress named Nam Ji-hyun (born 2002) and another widely known actress named Nam Ji-hyun (born 1995, linked with projects such as Good Partner). When people search for “Nam Ji-hyun” and see thriller-drama discussions, they sometimes add “4Minute” without realizing they are merging separate identities into one. The official cast information for Squid Game confirms that this 4Minute leader is not part of that franchise, so if you saw posts claiming otherwise, they are most likely the result of algorithm errors or mistaken fan edits rather than real news.
Personal Life in 2026: Husband, Marriage, and Children
In 2026, many readers click on Nam Ji-hyun updates mainly to check relationship rumors, but the verified information is simple. She is single and unmarried, meaning she does not have a husband, and she also has no children. This is not presented as a dramatic mystery—rather, it is a reflection of how carefully she controls her privacy. Some celebrities share dating news openly, but others keep that part of life completely separate, and Nam Ji-hyun has consistently maintained a strict boundary between public work and private relationships.
So why do husband rumors keep appearing? The main reason is that name confusion and trending keywords create “suggested searches” that look like real headlines, even when there is no announcement behind them. Once her name returned to Nam Ji-hyun again, casual fans who did not follow the name change timeline started searching for updates, and gossip-style search terms often spread faster than confirmed facts. As of January 2026, reliable profile sources and agency-based updates list her as unmarried, and there has been no public confirmation of any relationship since she reverted to her birth name and continued her acting work.
Education: What Did Nam Ji-hyun Study?
Nam Ji-hyun’s education is an important part of her story because it explains why her performance style has always looked polished and controlled. She attended Sangmyung University (Seoul Campus) in the College of Culture and Arts, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, focused on Contemporary Ballet. This background matches what longtime fans saw in her idol years: strong body control, flexibility, and stage discipline that looks trained rather than accidental. It also shows that even while she was active in entertainment, she invested in a formal foundation that could support a long-term career.
Her timeline is also meaningful because she began university in 2008, which was before her official debut period became widely known, and she graduated in February 2015. At graduation, she reportedly received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the university in recognition of how her public career helped promote the school’s image. For fans, this detail helps paint a fuller picture: she was not only an idol leader managing group responsibilities, but also a student completing a demanding arts degree, which requires consistent training and long-term commitment.
Acting Career After 4Minute: Dramas and Roles Fans Recognize
After her idol years, Nam Ji-hyun steadily built her acting portfolio, and in recent years she has been active mainly as a supporting actress, often playing believable everyday professionals such as law-related roles, business figures, or memorable “sister” characters who add realism and emotional weight to the story. This kind of casting fits her image well because she brings a mature, grounded presence that supports the main plot while still standing out in scenes that require sharp reactions, calm strength, or warm chemistry with other characters.
A key moment in this post-idol journey was Why Her? (2022), where she played Na Se-ryun (a law student). For many viewers, this role mattered because it arrived around the time she returned to using the name Nam Ji-hyun again, making it feel like a “new chapter” that still respected her history. Beyond that, her drama credits include Lonely Enough to Love (as Kang Hyun-jin), a cameo in When the Devil Calls Your Name (as Kim Yi-won), and My Little Baby (as Han So-yoon, a yoga instructor). While these roles may not always be the top-billed headline, they show consistent work and a clear strategy: building credibility step by step with recognizable characters, stable screen time, and a growing acting range.
Final Summary (2026 Facts in One Place)
Nam Ji-hyun’s 2026 update becomes much easier to understand when you focus on confirmed facts instead of viral keywords. She is 4Minute’s leader, born in 1990, and she is 36 years old in January 2026. She briefly promoted as Son Ji-hyun to reshape her image as an actress, but she is now working again under Nam Ji-hyun after joining FN Entertainment. She is unmarried, has no husband, and has no children, and the popular search phrase linking her to Squid Game is not true—it comes from mistaken identity with other actresses who share the same name. She also has a strong academic background with a Dance (Contemporary Ballet) degree from Sangmyung University, and she continues to appear in dramas in supporting roles that keep her acting career moving forward.
FAQ (For SEO)
Is 4Minute’s Nam Ji-hyun in Squid Game?
No. 4Minute’s Nam Ji-hyun (born 1990) is not part of the Squid Game cast; the keyword comes from name confusion.
Is Nam Ji-hyun married in 2026?
No. She is single/unmarried and has no husband or children as of January 2026.
Why did she use the name Son Ji-hyun?
She changed her name to distance herself from her idol image and focus on acting, then later returned to Nam Ji-hyun after joining FN Entertainment.
How old is she in 2026?
She is 36 years old in January 2026 (born January 9, 1990).
