Managed by Pledis Entertainment, he is a member of the South Korean boy band Seventeen and its Hip Hop Team.

[4][5] Before officially debuting, Mingyu was featured in music videos of other Pledis artists at the time, include Nu'est and Hello Venus.

[8] In February 2018, Mingyu was announced as the new MC for SBS' weekly music program Inkigayo alongside Jung Chae-yeon of DIA and actor Song Kang.

[17] In June 2024, he attended the opening of American fashion brand Calvin Klein's new global flagship store in Paris.

[18] On August 16, 2024, Mingyu became a model for Calvin Klein's Fall 2024 campaign, with photos shot by fashion photographer Park Jong Ha.