Kang Young-hyun (Korean: 강영현; born December 19, 1993),[1][unreliable source?] known professionally as Young K, is a South Korean musician, singer, songwriter, and rapper. He is best known as the bassist and vocalist of South Korean pop rock band Day6.
Early life
Kang Younghyun was born on December 19, 1993, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea as an only child. He was raised in Ilsan, South Korea and moved to Toronto, Canada, to attend middle[2][unreliable source?] and high school at York Mills Collegiate Institute. Since sixth grade, he has not lived with his parents. During this time, he went by his English name, Brian Kang.
Kang moved to Korea in 2010 and became a trainee at JYP Entertainment (JYP). After he signed a contract with JYP, his father retired and moved to Toronto with his mother.[3]
On October 5, 2017, he received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Dongguk University while working on his band career. He graduated from University on August 23, 2018.[4]
Career
2010–2015: Pre-debut
While attending middle and high school in Canada, Kang began his musical journey and career by forming two bands with his best friends Terry He and Don Lee. Their first band was called 3rd Degree. Their second band, Kiss Me Ever So Softly (KMESS), included two other close friends: Sean Yerzy and Sonny Tsai. The group posted several viral music videos and vlogs on He's YouTube channel[5] and performed at various local competitions and shows (including several shows organized by A1 Radio,[6] a subsidiary of Sing Tao News Corporation), which helped them garner a fanbase and attention from record labels and managers.[6][7]
In the summer of 2010, after noticing Kang from his entry to JYP's Global Audition program and YouTube work, JYP Entertainment staff met with Kang and his bandmates in Toronto for an audition.[8] This resulted in Kang and Lee signing with JYP as trainees and moving to South Korea full-time to begin their idol training that same year.[9] Lee later left JYP to pursue a career in dentistry. Kang went on to appear in the fourth episode of WIN: Who is Next?[10] as a part of JYP's rapping team with Got7's Mark Tuan and Jackson Wang against the combined rapping teams of Team A and Team B, where he became known for the verse, "YG, get an attitude!" He was also a part of JYP's vocalist team alongside his eventual Day6 bandmates Junhyeok, Jae, Sungjin and Wonpil.
In 2014, Kang was selected as a member of five-member rock band 5Live under JYP, but their debut was cancelled. The band was reformed as Day6 after the addition of drummer Dowoon in 2015.[11] Kang was also originally selected as a member of the group Got7, but was ultimately cut from the lineup.[12]
2015–present: Day6, Solo activities, Even of Day and solo debut
On September 7, 2015, he made his debut as a member of Day6 and released their debut EP, The Day, with the lead single "Congratulations".[13][14]
Kang has been credited with much of the songwriting in Day6's discography.
In September 2015, he was featured in fellow JYP artist, the solo artist Baek A-yeon song titled "Shouldn't Have" where he did and wrote the rap part. The song went on to become a sleeper hit, reaching number one on several Korean music real-time charts a month after its release among fierce competition.[15][unreliable source?] He was also featured in a song of Korean indie musicians Park Sae-byul & Like Likes, in the song titled "Sky High": Kang did the rap part.[16] He has also been featured as rapper in JYP label mate Park Ji-min's single "Young해".[17]
On March 14, 2018, he made his debut as a member of Day6 in Japan with first Japanese single "If ～また逢えたら～". The single also serves as theme song for the Japanese drama Repeat.[18][19]
In 2019, he composed and contributed lyrics to a track for the solo debut of B.A.P's Youngjae entitled "Hope".[20]
Together with Got7's Youngjae he became the new DJ of MBC RadioIdol Radio starting from May 18, 2020.[21] The first season of the show ended on September 25.[22]
On August 31, 2020, Kang, Dowoon and Wonpil debuted as Even of Day,[23] a sub-unit of Day6 and released their debut EP The Book of Us: Gluon, with the lead single "Where the Sea Sleeps" (파도가 끝나는 곳까지).[24][25]
On September 19, 2020, Young K collaborated with American pop duo X Lovers with a remix version of "Love".[26][unreliable source?]
On October 16 and 23, 2020, Kang and Wonpil made a surprise appearance as a cameo in the web drama Let Me Off the Earth.[27]
On November 23, 2020, Kang became the new DJ for KBS CoolFM's Kiss The Radio,[28] in which he was invited to reprise the role after his military discharge in April 2023. He eventually reprised the DJ role for Kiss The Radio on June 19, 2023.[29]
On January 14, 2021, Kang featured as rapper in Thai singer Apiwat Ueathavornsuk (Stamp)'s single "Sugar High".[30]
On May 28, 2021, Kang featured in Ben&Ben remake song "Leaves" and this also comes as Kang's first collaboration with a Filipino act.[31]
On September 6, 2021, Kang made his solo debut with the extended play Eternal, which consists of seven songs including the title track "Guard You", "Come as you are(그대로 와 줘요)" and "Microphone".[32]
On June 23, 2023, Kang released the single "Better Day", in which he wrote the lyrics. The song is the winning song of the music contest Songs That Care hosted by JYP Entertainment.[33] Kang also performed the song live at 2023 JYP EDM Day - the video is published by JYP Entertainment on YouTube.[34]
On August 25, 2023, Kang released the single "Let it be Summer", which would be featured in his upcoming first studio album Letters with Notes.[35] The album was released on September 4, together with its title track "Nothing But".[36]
On December 23, 2023, Young K won the Radio DJ of the Year award at the 2023 KBS Entertainment Awards for hosting the radio show Kiss The Radio.[37][unreliable source?]
On January 2, 2024, Young K won the Ballad Award under the Genre-based awards at the 33rd Seoul Music Awards held at Bangkok, Thailand. Notably, he was ranked first among the award nominees with a total mobile vote of 52.78%.[38] He also performed the songs "Nothing But (이것밖에는 없다)" and "Time of Our Life (한 페이지가 될 수 있게)" live at the award ceremony.[38]
On April 10, 2024, Young K clinched the "Best Rock Ballad Award" at Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024 held at the K Arena in Yokohama, Japan, which was a testament to his growth as an all-rounder artist and his soulful delivery of the rock ballad "Nothing But" from the first full album (Letters with Notes) that he released in 2023.[39][unreliable source?]
Personal life
On August 16, 2021, Young K announced that he will enlist as part of his mandatory military service on October 12, 2021, where he will be serving in KATUSA.[40] During his military service, Young K won the "2022 Eighth Army Best Warrior Competition" in KATUSA category, held from May 8 to May 13, 2022.[41] He also appeared in the eighth episode of tvN variety program, The Backpacker Chef, which aired on July 14, 2022.[42] He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal along with additional gifts from local military support groups and many other rewards.[43] On November 20, the Eighth Army (United States) released the current situation of Young K, who had just been promoted to Sgt (U.S. Army Sergeant, a rank equivalent to Sergeant in the Republic of Korea Army), through its official SNS, an official on November 20.[44] He was discharged on April 11, 2023.[45]
^"Ben&Ben to drop 'Leaves' remake featuring DAY6's Young K". Ben&Ben to drop 'Leaves' remake featuring DAY6's Young K | Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. May 26, 2021. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^Hwang Hye-jin (August 17, 2021). "'낮경영 밤밴드' 데이식스 영케이, 아이돌 최초 카투사 합격[스타와치]" ['Day Management Night Band' Day6 Young K, the first idol to pass KATUSA Soldiers [Starwatch]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
^Min-kyung, Ji (June 23, 2023). "DAY6 영케이, 신곡 'Better Day' 깜짝 발매..노래로 선한 영향력 전파" [DAY6 Young K, surprise release of new song 'Better Day'.. Spreading good influence through song]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023 – via Naver.
^Byung-cheol, Yoo (August 23, 2023). "DAY6 Young K, 'let it be summer' 음원 및 뮤직비디오 25일 공개...여름 끝자락에서 전하는 무한 청춘 에너지" [DAY6 Young K, 'let it be summer' sound source and music video released on the 25th... Infinite youthful energy delivered at the end of summer]. Korea Economy TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023 – via Naver.
^Byung-cheol, Yoo (August 16, 2023). "Young K, 첫 솔로 정규 앨범 트랙리스트 공개...타이틀곡은 '이것밖에는 없다'" [Young K, first solo full-length album tracklist released... The title song is 'There is nothing but this']. Korea Economy TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeon Hee-yeon (August 16, 2021). "[종합] 영케이 10월 12일 카투사 입대 "솔로 앨범 준비" [[General] Young K enlisted in KATUSA Soldier on October 12 "Preparing for solo album"]. Sports DongA (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021 – via Naver.
^Park Dae-ro (May 20, 2022). "아이돌 데이식스 영케이, 카투사 최우수 전사 대회 우승" [Idol Day6 Young K wins KATUSA Soldier Best Warrior Contest]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee So-yeon (July 14, 2022). "'백패커' 데이식스 영케이 근황 공개 "최고 전사 대회 우승.. 미군들에게 한식 맛 보여주고파"" ['Backpacker' Day6 Young K's current status revealed "Winning the best warrior competition... I want to show the Americans the taste of Korean food"] (in Korean). MBC Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hwang Hye-jin (November 20, 2022). "데이식스 영케이, 카투사 병장 진급 "군대서 많은 경험·교훈 얻어" [DAY6's Young K, promoted to KATUSA Sergeant "I gained a lot of experience and lessons from the military]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeon, Jae-kyung (April 11, 2023). "데이식스 영케이, 오늘 카투사 만기 전역" [DAY6 Young K, KATUSA Soldier Expiration Today] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abPeak chart positions of the Circle Album Chart:
^C., Daniel (September 12, 2018). "Gaon's 관찰노트" [Gaon's Observation Notes]. Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
^Seung-min, Jeong (August 9, 2023). "조유리 "데이식스 영케이 협업? 원했던 것 이상의 결과...1,000% 만족"" [Cho Yu-ri "Day6 Young K Collaboration? Result beyond what I wanted... 1,000% Satisfied"]. MHN Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023 – via Naver.
^Choi, Hye-jin (September 4, 2023). "하이키, 대세 걸그룹 증명..본격 글로벌 인기 상승세" [H1-Key, proven to be a popular girl group...real rise in global popularity]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kang, Seo-jeong (January 6, 2024). "엔믹스, 컴백 타이틀곡='DASH'..DAY6 Young K 참여 2번째 미니앨범" [Nmixx, comeback title song='DASH'..DAY6 2nd mini album featuring Young K] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kang, Ga-hee (August 10, 2023). "총상금 1억 '초대형 노래방 서바이벌 VS'..초호화 프로듀서 라인업 공개" [Total prize money of 100 million won. "Super-large karaoke survival vs."The lineup of super luxurious producers will be released] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023 – via Naver.
^Park, Soo-in (June 5, 2023). "데이식스 영케이 '키스 더 라디오' DJ 복귀, 이민혁 후임된다" [DAY6 Young K returns as DJ of "Kiss the Radio" and replaces Lee Min-hyuk] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023 – via Naver.
