An Chil-hyun (Korean: 안칠현; born October 10, 1979[1]), known professionally as Kangta (stylized sometimes in all caps and formerly as KangTa; 강타), is a South Korean singer, composer, songwriter, record producer, actor and radio personality. He is well known as a member of boy band H.O.T.. Also he is an executive of SM Entertainment since 2005 and the chief producer of Kreation Music Rights's label Smashhit since 2023.
Kangta was discovered at Lotte World, a theme park, when he was only 13 years old. He made his debut on-screen appearance as a backup dancer together with future bandmate Moon Hee-joon for labelmate singer Yoo Young-jin. Kangta eventually decided to become a singer with Moon 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 as the members decided not to renew it.
2001–2002: Solo debut, 'Polaris' and 'Pine Tree'
Kangta released his first studio album "Polaris" on August 16, 2001, and began his solo career with the title track "Polaris". On this album, he wrote, composed and arranged seven songs and produced the album. Even at the beginning of the recession in the music market, it sold 300,000 copies within a week of its release, ranking first in record sales,[2] and was a great success with sales close to 500,000 copies.[3] In December of the same year, SM Entertainment's singers began to enter China in earnest, starting with performances in Beijing and Shanghai, China.[4]
From March 4 to October 20, 2002, he was the main DJ of "Kangta's Declaration of Freedom" at KBS 2FM, and from October 21 to April 20, 2003, he was a double DJ with Shin Hye-sung. Later in March, the heroine Seong-so (played by Lim Eun-kyung) was cast as the beloved singer Ga Jun-oh in Jang Sun-woo's film "The Second Coming of a Match Girl" and made a cameo appearance.[5]
On August 1 of the same year, he released his second studio album "Pine Tree" for the first time in more than a year, and as with his first album, he recorded more than 70% of his own songs.[6] Prior to his broadcast activities after the album's release, his first solo concert KANGTA 1ST CONCERT "Pine Tree" was held three times on Aug. 24 and 25 at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium.[7]
2004–2005 : Acting roles and Director of SM Entertainment
Kangta received several offers and 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. A few months later, he starred in a KBS drama, Loveholic in Korea.
In 2005, Kangta was appointed director when he re - signed with SM and received a portion of the down payment as a stock.[8]
2005 : the third studio album 'Persona'
Kangta released his third album, Persona, in 2005. In July of the same year, the third studio album Persona was officially released in Taiwan and China. The album became a hot topic because it had 500,000 pre-orders.[9] The title song "Persona" was a big hit in China.
Kangta also acted in his second Chinese drama,[10]Love in the City 2. In the series, Kangta portrayed the life of a successful CEO with a dull life. In March Kangta was announced to be playing a supporting role in JTBC's 2012 drama Happy Ending as Kim So-eun's love interest.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
2010: Chinese Single "Breaka Shaka"
After two years and five months of hiatus from the entertainment industry due to Korean military service, Kangta released Chinese Single Breaka Shaka.[14] and the EP was released on September 14.
In 2013, he produced the OST for That Winter, the Wind Blows, and "Gray Paper" and "And One" were written and composed by Kangta. He also produced Zhoumi's album "Rewind" in 2014.
2016: 'Home' Chapter 1
In March 2014, Kangta, alongside labelmate BoA, was appointed as a de facto creative director of S.M. Entertainment.[15]
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.[16] On October 11, S.M. Entertainment confirmed that Kangta currently preparing his new album.[17][18] 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.[19] Kangta released his first Korean extended play 'Home' Chapter 1 on November 3. The album contains five tracks, with the lead single titled "Diner".
2021–2022: "Cough Syrup", 25th Anniversary project and "Eyes on You"
After a three-year musical hiatus, the new song "Cough Syrup" was pre-released on SMTOWN LIVE "Culture Humanity" on January 1, 2021. And it was officially released as 'SM STATION' on January 15.[20]
SM Entertainment announced that Kangta would begin preparations for his twenty-fifth anniversary project throughout 2021. He first released the single "Freezing" on March 24.[21] Kangta released the remake single "Free To Fly 2021" on July 14.[22] The second single for the project "Christmas in July" was released on July 28.[23] The third single "Maybe" was released on October 12.[24] The fourth single "Slow Dance" was released on January 12, 2022.[25]
On August 17, 2022, it was announced that Kangta would be making a comeback[a] on September 7 with his fourth studio album Eyes on You, marking his first almost two decades (since 2005).[26] The lead single of the same name was released on the same day the ten-track album was released, and It included "Skip" featuring NCT Taeyong and "Love Song" featuring Paloalto.[27][28]
On April 22, 2023, SM STATION released its digital single, "When I Close My Eyes". The song was sung with LeeAreum, a vocalist of hanbitarts, in commemoration of ‘Day of the Disabled’.[29]
2023-present: Producers' activities
In 2023, Kangta is the executive producer of SMASHHIT Productions Team, one of the four CICs of Kreation Music Rights, SM Entertainment's music publishing subsidiary.[30] And in 2024, he expanded his field by working on songs with a number of singers, discovering various producers.[31]
Personal life
He is an experienced songwriter and composer, having written over 100 songs for H.O.T.'s albums as well as for other groups and singers like NRG and former labelmate Fly to the Sky.
On February 4, 2020, it was confirmed that Kangta is in a relationship with actress Jung Yumi.[32]
After planning for years, Kangta worked with his celebrity friends Shin Hye-sung from Shinhwa and Lee Ji-hoon to form the project group named 'S', an initialism for 'Supreme'. They released their first solo project album called Fr. In. Cl. (short for '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 wrote the English lyrics.
On 14 October 2014, it was announced that group 'S' would be making a comeback[a] 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 was released on October 24, starring Yuri of Girls' Generation. The group was slated to be on 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 promoted their single in 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, during which activities were put on hold.
^ abA comeback in K-pop is a "return" to musical activity, and a release of a new project for promotion.
^According to the Music Industry Association of Korea (MIAK), which stopped compiling data after 2008, Polaris peaked at number one on the monthly chart of August 2001.[34]
^According to the Music Industry Association of Korea (MIAK), which stopped compiling data after 2008, Pine Tree peaked at number one on the monthly chart of August 2002.[36]
^According to the Music Industry Association of Korea (MIAK), which stopped compiling data after 2008, Persona peaked at number three on the monthly chart of March 2005.[38]
^According to the Music Industry Association of Korea (MIAK), which stopped compiling data after 2008, Eternity peaked at number five on the monthly chart of March 2008.[41]
^Hong, Young-joon (March 25, 2018). "[TV컷Q]'집사부일체' 보아 "강타 김민종 등 SM 이사마다 역할 다르다" 하는 일은?" [In "Master in the House", BoA says, "Each SM Director Has Different Roles"]. SportsQ (in Korean). Retrieved June 20, 2019.
^Lee, Da-won (July 23, 2021). "강타, 데뷔 25주년 두번째 싱글 발매" [Kangta, 25th anniversary of debut, second single release]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved July 23, 2021.
^Lee, Soo-jin (October 8, 2021). "강타, 데뷔 25주년 3번째 싱글 '아마' 12일 발매" [Kangta, 25th anniversary of her debut, 3rd single 'Maybe' released on the 12th]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2021.
^Lee, Da-gyeom (August 17, 2022). "강타, 9월 '아이즈 온 유' 발매...17년 만 정규 컴백" [Kangta releases 'Eyes on You' in September... 1st regular comeback in 17 years] (in Korean). Star Today, Maeil Business News. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Naver.
^"August 2001 Rankings" (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. September 2001. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
^"August 2002 Rankings" (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. September 2002. Archived from the original on October 16, 2004. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
^"March 2005 Rankings" (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. April 2005. Archived from the original on May 27, 2005. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
^"March 2008 Rankings" (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. April 2008. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
