Kang Daniel

Background

Kang Daniel was born Kang Eui-geon on December 10, 1996, in Busan, South Korea. Daniel doesn’t come from a very prestigious background. After one of his father’s businesses failed, his family had to readjust by moving into a basement. The uncomfortable living situation, among others, led to his parents divorcing and his mother raising him on her own. Regardless of the separation, he kept his last name Eui-geon. People found it difficult to pronounce, and he eventually changed it formally in 2021. Daniel, a Biblical hero, was one of his sources of inspiration. He was bullied in high school for his looks. He still found a way to cope with the problem when a teacher suggested that he try dancing to rebuild his self-esteem. He continued down this path, joining a b-boy community in his hometown. Daniel went further to attend Peniel International High School of the Arts, where he majored in modern dance.

In 2014, Daniel decided to move to Seoul to fulfill his dream of becoming an idol. He started working as a trainer with B2M Entertainment and then joined M.M.O. Entertainment. Since the company lacked facilities and funding, Daniel found that he was teaching himself dance and life skills to survive. Shortly after an opportunity came knocking, Daniel and his colleague at M.M.O. decided to join the second season of “Produce 101.” His glossy pink hair (at the time) and bright personality attracted some attention. A few episodes later, his popularity started rising. His hard work paid off as his performances in the final episodes earned him first place.

He teamed up with the group “Wanna One,” who sold over a million copies of their debut mini-album, bagging them several awards. The group was always known to be temporary, so fans were not surprised when they announced their disbandment. The fans were elated to know that Daniel would continue his solo career. He also claimed victory in a conflict that arose with his rise to stardom when he met legal challenges from his former label.