Myungin Bae was born in Jinhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do on November 8, 1932. After graduating from Jinhae High School, he entered Seoul National University (LL.B.) and then passed the 8th justice division of the Higher Civil Service Examination. He began to work as a prosecutor at Seoul, Chungju, Busan and Daegu District Prosecutors' Offices, a senior prosecutor at Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, a head of Seongbuk Branch of Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, a head of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, a head of the Criminal Affairs Bureau in the Ministry of Justice, a deputy chief prosecutor in Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and lastly as the 33rd Minister of Justice (June 1982 to February 1985).

After retiring from the Justice Ministry, he worked as an Visiting Professor at Keio University Law School in Japan for one year. After returning to Korea, he founded the law office Bae, Kim & Lee in December 1986 and became the head of the Agency for National Security Planning in 1988. Later, he served as the 2nd president of the union of Gyeongju Bae Clan, 23rd president of the alumni association of Jinhae Middle and High Schools, 27th president of the alumni association of Seoul National University Department of Law, and 4th chairperson of the board of Tongmyong Educational Foundation. He was awarded Order of Service Merit (Red Stripes) in 1983 and Order of Service Merit (Blue Stripes) in 1985.