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Kangta | |
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강타 | |
![]() Kangta in 2018 | |
Born | Ahn Chil-hyun October 10, 1979 Seoul, South Korea |
Occupation |
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Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments |
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Years active | 1996–present |
Labels | S.M. |
Website | kangta |
Kangta | |
Hangul | 강타 |
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Revised Romanization | Gangta |
McCune–Reischauer | Kangt'a |
Birth name | |
Hangul | 안칠현 |
Hanja | 安七炫 |
Revised Romanization | An Chil-hyeon |
McCune–Reischauer | An Ch'irhyŏn |
Ahn Chil-hyun (born October 10, 1979), known professionally as Kangta (stylized as KangTa or sometimes in all caps), is a South Korean singer, composer, songwriter, record producer, actor and radio personality. He is well known as a member of South Korean boy band H.O.T.
Kangta was discovered at Lotte World, a theme park, when he was only 13 years old. He debuted as a back-up dancer together with future band member Moon Hee-joon for singer Yoo Young-jin. Kangta eventually decided to become a singer with Moon Hee Jun and three others, Jang Woo Hyuk, Tony An, and Lee Jae Won to form H.O.T. in 1996. The group disbanded in 2001, after the group contract expired and they decided not to renew it.
Soon after H.O.T. disbanded in March 2001, Kangta made his solo debut after renewing his contract with S.M. Entertainment. He released his first solo album "Polaris", which became a huge hit; it was followed by his second album Pinetree in 2002. His first solo concert took place on August 23–24, 2002.
Kangta received several offers and has accepted a drama offer in China. In 2004, he starred in a drama called Magic Touch of Fate together with Taiwanese actors and actresses, Ruby Lin and Alec Su. Kangta portrayed the role of the evil magician Jin-Xiu
Soon afterwards, Kangta returned to Korea and released his third album, Persona, in 2005, which included tracks that were very different from his previous two albums. Kangta surprised his fans when he said he wanted to become an actor. A month later, he starred in a KBS drama, Loveholic.
In 2005, Kangta was chosen as the Best Korean Singer overseas, according to Arirang International Broadcasting. A poll was issued over the internet, allowing only people outside of Korea to vote.2005 Mnet KM Music Video Festival
Kangta also acted in his second Chinese drama,[1] Love in the City 2. In Love in the City 2 Kangta portrayed the life of a successful CEO with a dull life. In March Kangta was announced to be starring in JTBC's 2012 drama Happy Ending as Kim So-eun's love interest.[2]
In 2007, he filmed two dramas and Love in the City 2 aired on October 1, 2007. In January 2007, Kangta took part in the Hallyu Festival in Osaka, which also featured Jun Jin and Lee Min-woo of Shinhwa, SG Wannabe and actor Song Seung-heon at the Osaka Dome.[3]
Kangta enlisted for mandatory military service in April 2008 for 21 months of active duty. During which time he starred in military musical Mine with rapper Yang Dong-geun. It is about the true life story of Lieutenant Lee Jong-myung, who lost his legs in a land mine explosion near the demilitarized zone, in June 2000, when he saved fellow soldier, Sul Dong-seob from the minefield.[4]
After two years and five months of hiatus from the entertainment industry due to Korean military service, Kangta released his first Chinese extended play, Breaka Shaka. The lead single was released on September 13[5] and the EP was released on September 14. The EP marked Kangta's entrance to the Chinese market.
In March 2014, Kangta, alongside labelmate BoA, was appointed as a de facto creative director of S.M. Entertainment.[6]
In October 2016, S.M. Entertainment announced that Kangta would hold a concert to celebrate his 20th debut anniversary titled Coming Home, as a part of SM Entertainment's concert series The Agit. The concert was held from November 4 to November 6 at SMTown Theatre.[7] On October 11, S.M. Entertainment confirmed that Kangta currently preparing his new album.[8][9] On the same day, it was confirmed that Kangta would appear on JTBC's A Hyung I Know and would be aired on October 29.[10] Kangta released his first Korean extended play 'Home' Chapter 1 on November 3. The album contains five tracks, with the lead single titled "Diner".
In 2019, it was revealed Kangta would be coming back with a single called "Love Song" on August 4, featuring Paloalto. However, the single's release was cancelled in light of cheating accusations that surfaced against him.[11]
S.M. Entertainment announced that Kangta would begin preparations for his 25th Anniversary project throughout 2021. He first released the single "Freezing" on March 24.[12] Kangta released the remake single "Free To Fly 2021" on July 14.[13] The second single for the 25th Anniversary project "Christmas in July" was released on July 28.[14] The third single "Maybe" was released on October 12.[15] The fourth single "Slow Dance" was released on January 12, 2022.[16]
He is an experienced songwriter and composer, having written over 100 songs[17] for H.O.T.'s albums as well as for other groups and singers like NRG and Fly to the Sky.
On February 4, 2020, it was confirmed that Kangta is in a relationship with actress Jung Yumi.[18]
After planning for years, Kangta worked with his celebrity friends Shin Hye Sung from Shinhwa and Lee Ji Hoon to form the project group "S", standing for "Supreme". They released their first solo project album called "Fr. In. Cl." or Friends in Classic (2003). They have won several awards since then. Their title track, "I Swear" was written, composed, and arranged by Kangta while Shin Hye Sung wrote the English lyrics.
On 14 October 2014, it was announced that group 'S' would be making a comeback after over a decade with a new mini-album titled Autumn Breeze, scheduled to be released on October 27. SM Entertainment stated that "Kangta wrote and produced all the songs on the upcoming album. Kangta’s unique music style and the trio’s harmonious voices will create beautiful ballads that will satisfy the fans". On October 18, the group performed their new song Without You (하고 싶은 거 다) at SM Entertainment's agency-wide concert SM Town in Shanghai. The music video for the song Without You was released on October 24, starring Yuri of Girls' Generation. The group is slated to be on Korean singing program Immortal Songs 2 on November 3 as part of their promotions.
Early 2006, Kangta collaborated with Vanness Wu of F4 from Taiwan, and formed Kangta & Vanness. Their debut was in Thailand ending the ceremony for the 2006 MTV Asia Awards. They released their single "Scandal" and have been busy promoting their single all over Asia. "Scandal" was a success over Asia and a repackaged version was released in mid-July. On September 12, they held a showcase in Malaysia, Berjaya Times Square.
On Arirang TV's talk-show "Heart to Heart", Kangta announced that he would be entering the Army in early 2008, so activities have been put on hold.
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
KOR | |||
Polaris |
|
N/A[a] |
|
Pine Tree |
|
N/A[b] |
|
Persona |
|
N/A |
|
Eternity |
|
N/A[c] |
|
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
KOR | ||
Kangta & Best |
|
N/A |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
KOR | ||
1st Concert Pinetree: 20020824 Live |
|
N/A |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
---|---|---|---|---|
KOR | ||||
Chinese | ||||
Breaka Shaka |
|
N/A | N/A | |
Korean | ||||
'Home' Chapter 1 |
|
13 |
|
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR | |||||
Korean | |||||
"Polaris" | 2001 | N/A | Polaris | ||
"Memories" | 2002 | Pine Tree | |||
"Persona" | 2004 | Persona | |||
"Eternity" | 2008 | Eternity | |||
"Diner" | 2016 | — | 'Home' Chapter 1 | ||
"Cough Syrup" (감기약) | 2021 | — | Non-album singles | ||
"Freezing" | — | ||||
"Free To Fly 2021" (자유롭게 날 수 있도록 2021) | — | ||||
"Christmas in July" (7월의 크리스마스) | — | ||||
"Maybe" (아마) | — | ||||
"Slow Dance" | 2022 | — | |||
Chinese | |||||
"Breaka Shaka" | 2010 | — | Breaka Shaka | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. Note: Gaon Chart was established in February 2010. Releases before this date have no chart data. |
Title | Year | Peak positions |
Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
KOR | ||||
"I Want" (Fly to the Sky featuring Kangta and BoA) |
2001 | N/A | Promise | |
"Something To Tell You" (할말이 너무 많아요)" (Chu Ga-yeoul featuring Kangta) |
2007 | Vol. 2 There's So Much I Want To Say Promise | ||
"7989" (Taeyeon featuring Kangta) |
Girls' Generation | |||
Gaon Chart was established in February 2010. Releases before this date have no chart data. |
Title | Year | Peak positions |
Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
KOR | ||||
"White" | 2001 | N/A | Christmas Winter Vacation in SMTown.com – Angel Eyes | |
"The First Noel" | ||||
"Seom" | 2002 | Resurrection of the Little Match Girl soundtrack | ||
"Perguntas" | Air City soundtrack | |||
"Blue" | Summer Vacation in SMTown.com | |||
"여름날의 추억" | ||||
"보내는 글여" | 2002 Winter Vacation in SMTown.com – My Angel My Light | |||
"Silver Bell" (with Hye-sung and Isak N Jiyeon) | ||||
"연가" | 2003 | 2003 Summer Vacation in SMTown.com | ||
"그림으로 떠나는여행" (with Lee Ji-hoon and Dana) | ||||
"The Christmas Song" | 2003 Winter Vacation in SMTown.com | |||
"미쳐가나봐" | 2004 | 2004 Summer Vacation in SMTown.com | ||
"Just One" (with Moon Hee Jun and Isak N Jiyeon) | ||||
"Summer Night Love (한 여름밤의 고백)" | 2006 | 2006 Summer SMTown | ||
"White Christmas" | 2006 Winter SMTown – Snow Dream | |||
"Last Year Summer Night Story" (지난 여름밤의 이 야기) | 2007 | 2007 Summer SMTown – Fragile | ||
"Still My Heart" | Dear My Love soundtrack | |||
"White Wonderland" | 2007 Winter SMTown – Only Love | |||
"Arrow" | 2011 | — | Athena soundtrack | |
"For The First Time" | — | 2011 Winter SMTown – The Warmest Gift | ||
"Magic" (with Shin Seung-hoon, Baek Ji-young and Gil) |
2012 | — | The Voice of Korea | |
"Dear My Family" (with SMTown artists) |
— | I AM. soundtrack | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. Note: Gaon Chart was established in February 2010. Releases before this date have no chart data. |
Title | Year | Director | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Korean | |||||||||
"Polaris" | 2001 | N/A | |||||||
"Confession" | 2002 | N/A | |||||||
"Memories" | N/A | ||||||||
"Propose" | N/A | ||||||||
"Persona" | 2005 | Lee Sang-kyu | |||||||
"Eternity" | 2008 | N/A | |||||||
"Diner" | 2016 | N/A | |||||||
"Cough Syrup" | 2021 | N/A | |||||||
"Freezing" | N/A | ||||||||
"Free To Fly 2021" | N/A | ||||||||
"Christmas in July" | N/A | ||||||||
"Slow Dance" | 2022 | N/A | |||||||
Chinese | |||||||||
"Breaka Shaka" | 2010 | N/A |
Year | Album | Artist | Song | Lyrics | Music | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cred | With | Cred | With | |||||
2001 | Polaris | Kangta | "Polaris" | Yes | — | Yes | — | |
"My Life" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"In Your Eyes" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
"Still" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Last Summer Night" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Blue Moon" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
"Polaris" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
2002 | Pine Tree | "Happy Happy" | Yes | Lee Yoon-jae | No | — | ||
"Memories" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Propose" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Summer" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
"The Best" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Autumn" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
"Memories#2" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Flower" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"2032 in Cuba" | Yes | Yoon Hyo-sang | No | — | ||||
"Nocturne" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"One Snowing Day" | Yes | — | Yes | Song Kwang-sik | ||||
"Pine Tree" | Yes | — | Yes | |||||
No.1 | BoA | "Waiting" | Yes | — | No | — | ||
"Beat It" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
2005 | Persona | Kangta | "Persona" | Yes | — | Yes | — | |
"Illusion" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Agape" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Paralysis" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Just One Day" | Yes | — | Yes | — | ||||
"Blue Snow" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
"Always" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
"Prayer" | Yes | — | No | — | ||||
2007 | Girls' Generation and Eternity |
Kangta and Taeyeon | "7989" | Yes | — | Yes | — | |
2010 | Breaka Shaka | Kangta | "Remember" | No | — | Yes | — | |
"Habit" | No | — | Yes | — | ||||
2016 | 'Home' Chapter 1 | "Diner" | Yes | — | Yes | — |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Emergency Act 19 | Himself | |
Resurrection of the Little Match Girl | Special Guest Star | ||
2012 | I AM. | Himself | Documentary of SMTown in New York |
Secret Garden | Oscar | Chinese-language remake of the 2010 South Korean drama. | |
2015 | SMTown The Stage | Himself | Documentary film of SM Town[27] |
2016 | Mad Monk Ji Gong | TBA |
Year | Network | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | CCTV | Magic Touch of Fate | Jin Xiu (金修) | Main role |
KBS | Loveholic | Seo Kang Wook | Lead role | |
2007 | CCTV | Love In The City 2 | Zhang Wei Qi | Lead role |
2011 | SCTV | Pepper and Kimchi (辣椒与泡菜) | ||
BTV | Di Jin (帝锦) | Ling Xuan | ||
2012 | JTBC | Happy Ending[28] | Goo Seung Jae | Supporting role |
2016 | TBA | Circle of Friends | ||
2017 | TBA | Tri-Path Journey |
Year | Title | Network | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012–2013 | The Voice of Korea | Mnet | Judges | Seasons 1 and 2, did not return for season 3 |
2019 | Super Hearer | tvN | Hearer | Ep 1–8[29] |
Year | Title | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | KBS 2FM 'Freedom Declaration' | DJ | Solo DJ |
2016–2018 | MBC Starry Night | Solo DJ |
Year | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Best Male Artist | "Polaris"[30][31] | Won |
Best Ballad Performance | Nominated | ||
2002 | Best Male Artist | "Memories"[32] | Nominated |
Best Ballad Performance | Nominated | ||
2005 | Best R&B Performance | "Persona"[33] | Nominated |
Overseas Viewers' Award | "Mask"[34] | Won |