Biography of Kang Daniel
Kang Daniel is a South Korean singer-songwriter, actor, television host and businessman. He rose to fame and popularity after winning the reality competition series ‘Produce 101’. He was a power player and a former member of the J-pop group ‘Wanna One’. He established an independent entertainment company named Konnect Entertainment, which achieved monumental success managing other artists.
His solo debut EP ‘Color On Me’ was a top-hit commercial success along with his colour series like ‘Cyan’ (2020) and ‘Magenta’ (2020), ‘color trilogy’, ‘Yellow’ (2021) and singles like ‘Paranoia’ and ‘Antidote’. Towards the end of Wanna One’s activities as a group, he took a six-month hiatus to focus on his solo career primarily.
He has always been a vibrant host for several shows like ‘Mnet’s Street Woman Fighter’ (2021), the spin-off show ‘Street Dance Girls Fighter’ (2021–2022), ‘Be the SMF’ (2022), ‘Street Man Fighter’ (2022) and ‘Street Woman Fighter 2’ (2023). He made his acting debut through the first-ever Korean Disney+ Star original series, ‘Rookie Cops’ (2022).
Early Life and Education
Kang Daniel was born on 10 December 1996 as Kang Eui-geon in Busan, South Korea. He was the only child in the family and later changed his name to Daniel.
In eighth grade, he began dancing and joined a dance academy called Nataraja Academy in Busan. As a passionate dancer at a young age, he participated in several dance competitions like ‘Busan City Kids’ competing against competitors such as Jimin and Park Woo-jin. He fueled his passion for dance by joining Peniel Arts High School studying modern dance for a year focusing on ballet.
He won a gold medal in the dance category at the 49th High School Performing Arts Contest. Unable to bear the educational expenses, he dropped out of high school and later received the Korean equivalent of a General Educational Development (GED) credential.
Career
Career Beginnings of Kang Daniel
Before joining Produce 101 Season 2, he was a trainee at B2M Entertainment and MMO Entertainment. As a trainee, he appeared on ‘Her Secret Weapon’, performing ‘Invitation’ and as a backup dancer to Fiestar’s Cao Lu and Spica’s Sihyun.
Produce 101 and Wanna One
In 2017, he won first the survival show of the second season of Mnet’s Produce series. He became the centre of the temporary boy group Wanna One. His official debut with the band was on Wanna One Premier Show-Con at the Gocheok Sky Dome, with the debut extended play (EP) ‘1×1=1 (To Be One)’.
Solo Debut
On 31 January 2019, he moved to LM Entertainment after his activities with Wanna One. Later, he suspended his contract with the agency as they sold Kang’s exclusive contract rights to third parties without his prior consent. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favour of Kang Daniel and he established his agency, Konnect Entertainment.
Kang Daniel made his official debut as a solo artist with the debut EP ‘Color on Me’. The lead single ‘What Are You Up To’ was a megahit and the jump-start led to the first-ever solo music show win on KBS2’s Music Bank. His promotions and fan base toured in different cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila.
He hosted his radio show on NOW., Naver’s online audio streaming service with Gray making a guest appearance. His other popular two singles are ‘Touchin’ and ‘Adulthood’. After the promotion of singles, he took a hiatus to focus on his health.
In 2020, he released his second EP ‘Cyan’ as the first instalment of his ‘color trilogy’ project. He won numerous accolades with his lead single ‘2U’ winning several trophies on music shows: ‘The Show’, ‘Music Bank’, ‘Show! Music Core’, ‘Show Champion’, and ‘M Countdown’.
Kang Daniel and Zico released their joint single ‘Refresh’ as a part of the Pepsi and Starship Entertainment collaboration project named ‘For the Love of Korea’. He participated in 88rising’s Asia Rising Forever and the TikTok Stage online concert. His first-ever drama OST was ‘Something’ through SBS’s romantic comedy ‘Backstreet Rookie’.
He hosted and performed the Pepsi Online Showcase as Pepsi’s global K-pop partner. To commemorate the first anniversary of his solo debut, he held an online fan meeting. He became the first Korean celebrity to have a fan meeting broadcast live through China’s local platform.
He released his second instalment, his ‘color trilogy’ project and his third EP ‘Magneta’ on 3 August 2020. The single was a huge success surpassing one million cumulative albums sold within 13 months of debuting as a solo artist. In 2021, he performed a special episode on MBC’s I Live Alone for the 2021 Summer/Spring Seoul Fashion Week. In collaboration with Paul McCartney’s photographer, MJ Kim, he opened pre-orders for Kang’s first art book Never Standing Still – It’s Time to Shine.
His first American collaboration was on ‘State of Wonder’ by Inverness alongside Anthony Russo, released on 15 January 2021. The digital single ‘Paranoia’ marked his first solo appearance on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart.
He was featured on YouTube Originals seven-episode documentary series K-Pop Evolution. As a solo artist, he released his fourth overall EP ‘Yellow’ as the final instalment of his three-part project. For the mobile application Universe, he released the promotional single ‘Outerspace’ featuring Loco through Universe Music.
In commemoration of his second anniversary, he held a virtual reality (VR) fan meeting. He was the official host for Mnet’s first-ever female dance crew competition show ‘Street Woman Fighter’. In 2021, he featured on Japanese musician Miyavi’s ‘Hush Hush’ from the studio album ‘Imaginary’.
He joined the lineup for ‘Cyworld BGM 2021’, a large-scale project to remake the top 100 BGM songs that were most popular on the Cyworld platform in the 2000s. Along with labelmate Chancellor, released a remake of Epik High’s ‘Fly’. Following a hiatus, the members of Wanna One reunited for a special performance at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards performing a new single by the group titled ‘Beautiful’.
Acting Debut and Concert Tour
He starred in the first-ever Korean Disney+ Star original series titled ‘Rookie Cops’, as his official debut as an actor. He released his first full-length album ‘The Story’ on 24 May 2022.
He made his US television debut with the performance of the album’s fourth track ‘Parade’ on the episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. As a versatile artist, his first solo concert tour was performed in multiple different cities throughout Asia, Europe, and North America in the years 2022-2023.
With the release of his EP ‘Joy Ride’ supported by the digital single ‘TPIR’ featuring Miyavi, he made his Japanese debut. He was chosen as the KBS as representative of Korea and participated in the 2022 ABU TV Song Festival held in New Delhi, India. He released an OST titled ‘Last Forever’ through TVING’s comedy Work Later, Drink Now 2.
On 26 January 2023, he released ‘Look Where We Are’ with 220 Kid and Willim. Hosted by the Grammy Museum, he performed at the We Bridge Music Festival and participated in the three-day exposition.
He released his fifth Korean EP ‘Realiez’ and performed at the 2023 Summer Sonic Festival. His documentary film ‘Kang Daniel: My Parade’, covers his first world tour with concert footage, behind-the-scenes rehearsals, and exclusive interviews released in movie theatres worldwide.
Achievements
Popularly known as Nation’s Centre, Kang Daniel is a top-tier celebrity with significant impact and influence domestically and globally. In the course of his vibrant successful career, he has won numerous accolades and awards. As a top idol star, he has always been an inspiration to many people. Here are some of his notable achievements:
- In 2018, Kang Daniel was appointed as the honorary ambassador for the special Korean cultural exhibit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
- In 2019, Kang Daniel was appointed as the honorary ambassador of Busan as a result of a citizen-voted poll.
- On 9 July 2019, Kang Daniel received a mandate from the mayor of the city at the Sajik Baseball Stadium.
- Kang Daniel is one of the highest-valued celebrities in South Korea’s advertising industry a year after debuting.
- In 2020, Kang Daniel was honoured to be the only singer invited among 30 national figures, including the prime minister of South Korea to participate in the 4352nd-anniversary ceremony of Korea’s National Foundation Day held by the Korean government at Gyeongbokgung Palace.
- Kang Daniel set a Guinness World Record for the “fastest time to gain one million followers” on Instagram in 2019.
- In 2020, Kang became the new brand ambassador for German sportswear brand Puma.
- In 2019, Kang Daniel established two companies named Konnect Entertainment and KD Corporation Ltd. as the chief executive officer (CEO) of both.
- Kang Daniel was the first male celebrity, globally, to front a campaign for Givenchy Beauty after being chosen as its brand ambassador.
- Kang Daniel has topped the Korean Business Research Institute’s ‘Male Model Brand Power Ranking’ and ‘Individual Boy Group Members Brand Power Ranking, the first artist in history to spend 13 consecutive months at the top of the latter.
- The cosmetics brand The BoiBoy selected him as one of the “three top stars” to be an official model.
- Kang Daniel won four Seoul Music Awards, one Melon Music Award and one Circle Chart Music Award.
- Kang Daniel’s acting debut earned him various accolades, two Asia Artist Awards, one Blue Dragon Series Award, and a Seoul International Drama Award.
- In March 2023, Kang was chosen as a model for a South Korean fashion brand under the E-Land Group titled SPAO.
- Kang Daniel made the Gallup Korea list of Most Preferred Idols in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list in 2019 and 2022.
- Kang was the recipient of the Seoul Mayor’s Award for Culture due to his great contribution to the rise of Seoul’s awareness by promoting the Korean Wave.
Personal Life
The prominent soloist in the industry, Kang Daniel, and the popular K-pop girl group member from Twice, Jihyo, have broken up. After a year and three months of dating, JYP Entertainment, the agency of Twice, confirmed the news of their separation. The two decided to part ways due to their busy schedules, making it challenging to maintain a personal life.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Kang Daniel has an annual income of 6-8 million US dollars.
Kang Daniel is one of the highest-valued celebrities in South Korea’s advertising industry. He has modelled, collaborated with and endorsed several global and domestic brands like ‘Think Nature’, ‘The Spring Home’, ‘Los Angeles Project’, ‘Bokuk, Kissing Heart’, the face of ‘Calvin Klein’ jeans, ‘Icepray’, ‘Mernel’ and ‘BioHeal’.
As a benefactor, he has provided financial assistance to various foundations. He has helped spread various foundations and has helped to spread various awareness and campaigns. He has contributed to the Miral Welfare Foundation, Hope Bridge Disaster Relief, The Snail of Love and many more.
Awards
- Seoul Music Awards (2023)
Main Award – Bonsang (The Story) - Korea First Brand Awards (2023)
Male Solo Artist - Korea Best Brand Awards (2023)
Best YouTube Content - APAN Star Awards (2022)
Best Original Soundtrack - Asia Artist Awards (2022)
Rookie of the Year – Actor
Potential Award – Actor - Blue Dragon Series Awards (2022)
Popular Star Award - Brand Customer Loyalty Award (2022)
Male Solo Singer - The Fact Music Awards (2022)
Artist of the Year – Bonsang - Forbes Korea K-Pop Awards (2022)
Best K-Pop Idols Who Shined in 2022 – Male - Hanteo Music Awards(2022)
Artist of the Year – Bonsang - K Global Heart Dream Awards (2022)
Main Award
Male Solo Popularity Award
Fandom Donation Award - Korea First Brand Awards (2022)
Male Solo Singer - Mubeat Awards (2022)
Best Performance – “Nirvana” featuring pH-1 and WDBZ - Seoul International Drama Awards (2022)
Outstanding K-Pop Idol - Seoul Music Awards (2022)
Main Award – Bonsang - Asia Artist Awards (2021)
Best Musician Award - Asian Pop Music Awards (2021)
Top 20 Songs of the Year – Overseas - Brand Customer Loyalty Award (2021)
Male Solo Singer - Brand of the Year Awards (2021)
Male Solo Singer - Forbes Korea K-Pop Awards (2021)
Best K-Pop Idols Who Shined in 2021 – Male - Gaon Chart Music Awards (2021)
Song of the Year – April- “Antidote” - Korea First Brand Awards (2021)
Male Solo Singer - APAN Music Awards (2020)
APAN Top 10 Bonsang
Best Performance
Best Male Solo – Korea
Best Male Solo – Global
KT Seezn Star Award - Brand of the Year Awards(2020)
Male Solo Singer - MTN Broadcast Advertising Festival (2020)
Viewers’ Grand Prize- KT TVC – Galaxy Note 10 Aura Red - Soribada Best K-Music Awards (2020)
Bonsang Award
Stage of the Year
Interesting Facts about Kang Daniel
- Kang Daniel officially changed his name from Euigeon to Daniel.
- Kang Daniel likes skateboarding.
- Kang Daniel hates bugs.
- Kang Daniel dislikes raisins.
- Kang Daniel has 4 cats: Peter, Rooney, Ori and Zhang Ah.
- The members chose the rooms after playing ‘Rock-Paper-Scissors’.
- Kang Daniel dreams of opening a sushi restaurant in Hong Kong.
- Kang Daniel is allergic to shellfish. Out of seafood, he can only eat squid.
- Kang Daniel has the Guinness Book record for the fastest time to reach 1 million followers on Instagram.
- Kang Daniel snores the loudest.
FAQs
- What K-pop group was Kang Daniel in?
Wanna One. - Why did Kang Daniel change his name?
Due to family and friends having difficulty pronouncing his previous name Eui-geon. - How old is Kang Daniel?
As of 2024, he is 27 years old. - What is Kang Daniel’s Instagram ID?
