Kang Daniel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kang Daniel
|
|
|---|---|
Kang in September 2024
|
|
| Born |
Kang Eui-geon
December 10, 1996 Busan, South Korea
|
| Education | Kyung Hee Cyber University |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Title |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | K-pop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels |
|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
강다니엘
|
| RR | Gang Daniel |
| MR | Kang Taniel |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul |
강의건
|
| RR | Gang Uigeon |
| MR | Kang Ŭigŏn |
| Signature | |
.svg) |
|
Kang Daniel (Hangul: 강다니엘; born Kang Eui-geon, December 10, 1996) is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, and television host. He became very famous in early 2017. This happened after he won first place in the reality TV show Produce 101 Season 2.
He was a member of the popular K-pop boy group Wanna One. After Wanna One finished its group activities, Kang Daniel took a break. In mid-2019, he started his solo music career. His first solo album, Color on Me, was a big success. His later albums, Cyan (2020) and Magenta (2020), also topped the music charts in South Korea. His song "Antidote" from his 2021 album Yellow became a number one hit.
Besides music, Kang Daniel has hosted popular TV shows like Street Woman Fighter (2021) and Street Man Fighter (2022). He also started acting in 2022 with the Disney+ series Rookie Cops. He used to run his own entertainment company called Konnect Entertainment, which closed in 2024. He has won many awards for his music and acting.
Contents
Early Life and School
Kang Daniel was born as Kang Eui-geon in Busan, South Korea. He is the only child in his family. He later changed his name legally to Daniel because friends and family found "Eui-geon" hard to say. He shared that a biblical figure inspired his new name.
He started dancing in eighth grade. He joined a b-boy club after a teacher suggested it. He later went to a dance academy in Busan. Kang Daniel also won a youth dance competition called "Busan Kids." He revealed that dancing helped him build confidence after being treated unfairly in elementary school because of his looks. He studied modern dance at Peniel Arts High School for a year. He won a gold medal in dance at a high school competition. He left high school early because the tuition was very expensive for his mother. He later earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, which is like a high school diploma. In 2018, he enrolled in Kyung Hee Cyber University to study applied music.
Career Journey
Starting Out in Music
Before appearing on Produce 101 Season 2, Kang Daniel trained for over two years. He first trained with B2M Entertainment and then with MMO Entertainment. During this time, he did not get dance or singing lessons because the companies had money problems. He also appeared as a backup dancer on a TV show called Her Secret Weapon.
2017–2018: Produce 101 and Wanna One Success
In 2017, Kang Daniel was one of the contestants from MMO Entertainment on Produce 101 Season 2. He became very well-known for finishing first in the show's final episode. This made him the "center" of the temporary boy group Wanna One. The group was first managed by YMC Entertainment and later by Swing Entertainment.
Wanna One officially debuted on August 7, 2017, with their first album 1×1=1 (To Be One). Around this time, Kang Daniel also joined the TV show It's Dangerous Beyond the Blankets. He was featured on the cover of Weekly Chosun magazine due to his popularity. In October 2017, he became the first male celebrity to be on the cover of InStyle Korea magazine. He also won a rookie award at the 2017 SBS Entertainment Awards for his role on the show Master Key.
In 2018, Kang Daniel continued his solo activities. He was the main model in Davichi's music video for "Days Without You." He also continued on the second season of It's Dangerous Beyond the Blankets, winning another rookie award at the 2018 MBC Entertainment Awards. He promoted with Wanna One, and their unit "Triple Position" won the Best Unit Award at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards. His contract with Wanna One ended on December 31, 2018. He performed with the group one last time at their farewell concerts in January 2019.
2019: Solo Debut and New Company
After Wanna One, Kang Daniel faced a legal issue with his agency, LM Entertainment. He won the case in May 2019, which allowed him to manage his own career. The next month, he started his own company, Konnect Entertainment.
Kang Daniel officially debuted as a solo artist on July 25, 2019, with his first album, Color on Me. This album broke records for first-day and first-week sales for a solo artist. His song "What Are You Up To" earned him his first solo music show win on August 9. He then went on a fan meet tour in six cities around Asia. He also hosted his own radio show called Kang Daniel Show. In November, he released two digital songs, "Touchin'" and "Adulthood." He won a music show trophy for "Touchin'," but then took a break to focus on his health.
2020–2021: Color Series and Hosting
In 2020, Kang Daniel returned with a travel reality show called Hello, Daniel. On March 24, he released his second album, Cyan. This was the first part of his "color trilogy" project. Its main song, "2U", became a top ten hit in Korea and won several music show awards. He also released a song called "Refresh" with Zico for a Pepsi project. In June, he released his first drama song, "Something," for the show Backstreet Rookie. To celebrate his first year as a solo artist, he held an online fan meeting in July.
His third album, Magenta, came out on August 3. With this album, he sold over one million albums as a solo artist in just 13 months. The main song "Who U Are" also won music show awards. In November, he released his first artbook, Never Standing Still - It's Time to Shine.
In January 2021, Kang Daniel was featured on the song "State of Wonder." On February 16, he released the song "Paranoia". This song became a top five hit in Korea and appeared on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. On April 13, he released his fourth album, Yellow. This was the final part of his "color trilogy." Its main song, "Antidote", became his first number one hit in Korea. He said the "color series is about sharing the different stages of self-discovery as an artist."
In July 2021, Kang Daniel became the host for Mnet's dance competition show Street Woman Fighter. His background in breakdancing made him a great choice. In September, he was featured on Japanese musician Miyavi's song "Hush Hush." He also reunited with nine other members of Wanna One for a special performance at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
2022–Present: Acting and World Tour
Kang Daniel made his acting debut in the Disney+ series Rookie Cops, which premiered in 2022. He played the role of Wi Seung-hyun. He released the Korean version of "Hush Hush" for the series soundtrack. In April, he performed his song "Antidote" on the Recording Academy's Press Play At Home, becoming the first K-pop solo artist to do so.
On May 24, 2022, Kang Daniel released his first full-length album, The Story. Its main song, "Upside Down", peaked at number two in Korea. He performed "Parade" from the album on The Kelly Clarkson Show in the US. In August 2022, he started his first solo concert tour, "First Parade." He performed in cities across Asia, Europe, and North America until April 2023. He also hosted Street Man Fighter and released a song for its soundtrack. In October, he made his Japanese debut with the album Joy Ride.
In January 2023, he released his first English song, "Look Where We Are." He performed at the We Bridge Music Festival in Las Vegas in April. He released his fifth Korean album, Realiez, on June 19. In August, he returned as the host of Street Woman Fighter 2. His documentary film Kang Daniel: My Parade was released in movie theaters in August and September 2023.
In July 2024, after his company Konnect Entertainment closed, Kang Daniel signed with a new agency called ARA. His new album, Act, was released on September 23, 2024. He performed two concerts in Seoul in October 2024. He is scheduled to start his second tour in January 2025, visiting seven cities in Asia and Australia.
Influence and Achievements
Kang Daniel's popularity as the center of Wanna One earned him the nickname "Nation's Center." He is seen as one of the most important male solo artists in K-pop. In February 2018, he became an honorary ambassador for a special Korean cultural exhibit at the 2018 Winter Olympics. In 2019, he was named an honorary ambassador for his hometown, Busan. He also participated in Korea's National Foundation Day ceremony in 2020.
Many famous people have said they are fans of Kang Daniel or were inspired by him. These include Olympic medalists and other artists.
In January 2019, Kang Daniel set a Guinness World Record for gaining one million followers on Instagram the fastest (in 11 hours and 36 minutes). His official fan club on Daum also reached 100,000 members faster than any other idol group. He became the first male celebrity globally to lead a campaign for Givenchy Beauty. He has been recognized for his strong marketing power, often topping brand power rankings. He has appeared on lists like Gallup Korea's 'Most Preferred Idols' and Forbes Korea's 'Korea Power Celebrities'.
His influence extends to webtoons (online comics). Writers of webtoons like Ideal Relationship and Eleceed have said Kang Daniel inspired their characters' looks. He has also been chosen as a top advertising model by young female consumers. In March 2021, he became the first artist to stay at the top of the Idol Chart for 150 weeks in a row. His travel show Hello, Daniel even caused a big increase in sales for a travel guide book.
Other Activities
Business Ventures
In June 2019, Kang Daniel started two companies: Konnect Entertainment and KD Corporation Ltd. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of both. Konnect Entertainment managed his music career and later other artists. KD Corporation handled his other business activities. These ventures included a cafe, a mobile app for his fan club, and a rhythm game called Superstar Kang Daniel. Konnect Entertainment also partnered with other artists like CL and Chancellor. Konnect Entertainment closed in June 2024.
Endorsements
Kang Daniel became one of the most valuable celebrities for advertisements in South Korea. He has had many endorsement deals across different industries.
In September 2017, he signed his first solo advertising contract with Think Nature, which greatly increased their online sales. He also modeled for The Spring Home, LAP fashion, HiteJinro soju, Bokuk electronics, and Kissing Heart eyewear. In July 2019, he became the model for KT Corporation, a phone company. His work with KT helped sell many phones. He also became the face of Mexicana Chicken, Givenchy Beauty, Subway Korea, and Calvin Klein Jeans. In October 2019, he promoted Rimowa luggage.
In January 2020, Kang Daniel became the new brand ambassador for Puma. He also collaborated with KakaoTalk's emoticon service, Kakao Friends, to create "Apeach Kang Daniel Edition" goods. In August 2020, he became the model for Icepray cosmetics. Givenchy Beauty announced in December 2020 that he would continue as their official model.
In January 2021, he became the brand ambassador for Mernel beauty. He also continued his contracts with Mexicana Chicken and Givenchy Beauty. In January 2022, he released a collection with Wonderwall ArtLab and became the ambassador for Bio Heal skincare. He also collaborated with SpongeBob SquarePants to create animated characters and merchandise. In March 2023, he became a model for the fashion brand SPAO.
Fashion and Modeling
Industry experts have noted that Kang Daniel's influence as a model can boost sales even when the fashion industry is slow. He has worked with luxury brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, and Cartier.
In January 2018, after he was seen wearing a duffel coat by LAP, he became the official model for the brand. The coat sold out quickly. LAP even launched a special clothing line called "Kang Daniel's Pick – Edition." Later that year, he became a new face for Chanel Fine Jewelry. He was on the cover of Elle Korea magazine, modeling Chanel jewelry and watches.
In March 2019, he was on the cover of Elle Korea again as Louis Vuitton's new style icon. He and actress Bae Doona led a campaign for Louis Vuitton's Twist handbag. In September 2019, he was chosen as the cover model for the important September issues of Arena Homme+ Korea and Vogue Korea. For Arena Homme+ Korea, he modeled Cartier jewelry, and pre-orders for the magazine increased greatly. He also modeled for Calvin Klein Jeans for their 50th anniversary.
In August 2023, Kang Daniel made his runway debut. He modeled for the BAPE 2024 Spring/Summer Japan Runway Show.
Helping Others
Kang Daniel is also known for his charity work. On June 12, 2018, he took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for ALS and donated money. His participation caused many more donations to the Seungil Hope Foundation. In November 2018, he was chosen for the Letter from Angels exhibition, which promotes adoption. The orphan photographed with him was adopted soon after. On his birthday, December 10, 2018, he donated money to the Miral Welfare Foundation to help people with low incomes.
In 2019, he donated to help victims of the Goseong Fire of 2019. His fan club also donated a large amount of money to various charities. In December, he recorded ringtone services for people with hearing or speech difficulties. He also donated to The Snail of Love, a group for the deaf and hard of hearing.
On February 28, 2020, Kang Daniel personally donated money to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. He said he wanted to help medical staff. In April, he visited The Snail of Love's office. He met a child who received a cochlear implant thanks to donations from him and his fan club.
Music Albums
- The Story (2022)
Concert Tours
- First Parade (2022–2023)
- Act (2025)
Movies and TV Shows
- Rookie Cops (2022)
- Kang Daniel: My Parade (2023)
Awards and Recognitions
Kang Daniel has received many awards for his music and acting. These include four Seoul Music Awards, one Melon Music Award, and a Circle Chart Music Award. His acting debut also earned him awards like two Asia Artist Awards. He even holds a Guinness World Record. In 2022, he received the Seoul Mayor's Award for Culture for helping promote the Korean Wave.
See also
In Spanish: Kang Daniel para niños
