Kang Daniel

Exuding star power and charisma, South Korean pop singer Kang Daniel was vaulted to celebrity status with his first-place finish on the 2017 reality contest Produce 101, and subsequent chart-topping run as a member of boy band Wanna One. Following a court battle to reclaim contractual rights unlawfully sold by his previous management agency, he formed his own company and launched an even more successful solo career with the Color on Me EP, which topped the Gaon Albums Chart upon its 2019 release. Kang has remained a chart favorite in South Korea, hitting number one with more color-themed EPs, including 2020's Cyan and 2021's Yellow. Born Kang Eui-geon in Busan, South Korea, he legally had his name changed to Daniel after enduring years of mispronunciation. Kang began dancing and singing as a teenager, first training under B2M and later with MMO Entertainment. He represented the latter company as a contestant on the 2017 season of the boy band reality contest Produce 101, where his combination of talent, charm, and good looks carried him to a first-place finish. At the show's conclusion, Kang and ten other Produce 101 contestants formed the boy band Wanna One, where he sang, danced, rapped, and acted as the group's central figure. They debuted in August 2017 and over the next year dominated the South Korean pop charts with each of their four multi-platinum-selling EPs debuting at number one. Wanna One's brief but impressive run culminated with the full-length album 1¹¹=1 (Power of Destiny), which appeared in November 2018, just months before their disbandment. During his time with the band, Kang's popularity as an individual soared; in addition to starring in the variety show It's Dangerous Beyond the Blankets, he also graced the covers of several prominent fashion magazines. In early 2019, as he was preparing to launch his post-Wanna One solo career, it was revealed that Kang's management company, LM Entertainment, had sold his contract rights to several third parties without his prior knowledge or consent. After months of legal battles, he earned his independence in court and took matters into his own hands by forming his own company, Konnect Entertainment. Kang's solo debut, Color on Me, appeared in July and, in addition to topping the Gaon Album Chart, set massive sales records on the Hanteo chart. A media blitz followed with appearances in major Asian cities, numerous awards, the debut of his own radio show, and the release of his next hit single, "Touchin'," all of which took its toll on Kang, who ended the year with a self-imposed hiatus, citing issues with anxiety and depression. Two more color-themed EPs arrived in 2020 with Cyan and Magenta, both of which topped the South Korean Goan Album chart. A third EP, Yellow, followed in 2021.
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