Kang Hye-won

Not to be confused with the actress Kang Ye-won.

In this Korean name, the family name is Kang.

Kang Hye-won (Korean: 강혜원; born July 5, 1999) is a South Korean actress and singer. She is a former member of the South Korean–Japanese girl group Iz*One, formed by CJ E&M through Mnet's 2018 reality competition television show Produce 48.

Kang Hye-won
Kang in May 2024
Born	(1999-07-05) July 5, 1999 (age 25) Yangsan, South Korea
Alma mater	Hanlim Multi Art School
Occupations	Actress singer
Years active	2018–present
Musical career
Genres	K-pop J-pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	8D Entertainment Off the Record[a] EMI[a]
Formerly of	Iz*One
Korean name
Hangul	강혜원
Revised Romanization	Gang Hyewon
McCune–Reischauer	Kang Hyewŏn
Signature

Early life

Kang was born in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang, South Korea, on July 5, 1999. She attended Bokwang High School in Yangsan, then she transferred to Hanlim Multi Art School.^[1]

Career

2018: Produce 48 & debut with Iz*One

See also: Produce 48 and Iz*One

Kang was announced to be a part of Produce 48 in 2018.^[2] She finished in 8th place with 248,432 votes securing her place in Iz*One.^[3] The group made their official debut on October 29, 2018, with the song titled "La Vie en Rose", from their debut extended play Color*Iz.^[4]

2021–2022: Solo activities, W, and acting debut

After Iz*One officially concluded activities on April 29, 2021, Kang returned to being a trainee under 8D Creative. On July 21, it was announced that Kang would be making her debut as an actress in the upcoming third season of web series Best Mistake, portraying character Jin Se-hee.^[5] On July 27, she made an appearance in Parc Jae-jung's "Hobby" music video.^[6] In August, Kang was confirmed as a cast member of MBC's variety show How A Family is Made.^[7]

On December 8, a teaser video was revealed on her YouTube channel, announcing the upcoming release of a winter special album, W.^[8] On December 22, she released the album with "Winter Poem" as the lead single.^[9]

On June 9, 2022, Kang released the single "Like A Diamond", featuring Stella Jang.^[10]

On July 6, Playlist Studio announced Kang as one of the casts in Seasons of Blossom a webdrama adaptation of webtoon of the same name. Kang will potrayed the role of Yoon Bo-mi.^[11]

2023–present: Rising popularity

In August 2023, it was revealed that Kang starred in a Coupang Play series Boyhood which aired on November 24, 2023.^[12] Boyhood became a hit in South Korea, experiencing viewers increase during its airing, it stayed within Top 10 most watched OTT Drama until its finale. A total of 2,914% viewers increase during the finale compared to the first week was recorded.^[13] As a result of Boyhood's popularity and success, the Entertainment Industry Insiders mentioned Kang as one of the "2024 Rising Actress to Look Forward to".^[14]

Endorsements

On November 12, 2021, Kang landed her first CF deal with the camera app SODA.^[15] On December 24, the global sports brand New Balance announced Kang as their pictorial model for their new backpack with the theme "MBTI Concept New Semester Backpack".^[16]

On January 13, 2022, through her own YouTube channel, Kang announced a collaboration with a skincare line, Uriid, where she was in charge of the promotional design of the new product, Uriid Neroli Garden Ampoule Stick.^[17] According to Uriid, after the promotional video with Kang was released on her YouTube channel, the product started selling high on social media and online stores, particularly in Hyundai Home Shopping.^[18] On March 30, Kang collaborated with Onitsuka Tiger Korea to promote their shoes collection with a fashion pictorial on Elle Korea.^[19] On May 30, Kang was chosen by the British premium bag brand, Radley London, to promote their new 2022 Spring/Summer Collection bags Forest Way-Smoking and Duke Place through a pictorial on atstar1 magazine.^[20] On June 8, a South Korean clothing brand, General Idea, announced Kang as their new muse and fashion brand model for their 2022 Summer Collection with the theme 'Bloomy Sunday'.^[21] Kang continued working with General Idea as their muse for their '22FW Woman Part.2 Collection' by dropping new pictorials on September 13.^[22] On June 27, Nexon announced Kang as their advertising model for their online game Mabinogi.^[23] On July 18, Kang announced a collaboration with LEGO to promote their three-dimensional reproduction of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night.^[24] On October 6, ma:nyo, a Korean cosmetic brand, announced Kang Hye-won as their new ambassador for their lipstick collection, No Mercy Spell Mood Stick, and for their skincare collection, V.collagen Heart Fit.^[25]

On January 9, 2023, Korean clothing company Roem announced Kang as their 2023 Spring/Summer season campaign model.^[26] Kang continued working for Roem throughout half of 2023,^[27] also modeling for the Fall collection. Their collaboration with Kang created a new slogan for Roem, "Romantic Is Everywhere", and it was reported that Roem sales increased by 30% after choosing Kang as their muse.^[28] On March 2, 2023, Nexon announced Kang as their special character for their game Sudden Attack.^[29]

On February 8, 2024, Korean sport fashion brand MLB [ko] announced Kang as their pictorial model for their Varsity spring collection through Vogue Korea.^[30][31] On April 12, 2024, Vaseline Korea announced on their Instagram that Kang has become the model for their Lip Therapy product.^[32] On April 30, Unilever Korea announced Kang as the official 24th brand ambassador of Vaseline Korea for their Lip Therapy campaign.^[33] On May 22, 2024, Kang was announced as Narciso Rodriguez Korea's pictorial model for their summer perfume collection.^[34]

Discography

For Kang's discography with Iz*One, see Iz*One discography.

Extended plays

List of extended plays, showing selected details, selected chart positions, and sales figures

Title	Details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [35]
W	Released: December 22, 2021 Label: 8D, Stone Music, Genie Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "W" "Winter Poem" "Snowy Day" (눈이 오는 날) "First Love Letter" "Winter Again" (내년 겨울에도 기억해줘)	6	KOR: 19,999[36]

Singles

List of singles, showing year released, chart positions,
and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		KOR
"First Love Letter"[37]	2021	—[A]	W
"Winter Poem"		—[B]
"Like A Diamond" (with Stella Jang)	2022	—[C]	Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region.

Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, showing year released,
chart positions, and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		KOR
"Snowy Day" (눈이 오는 날)	2021	—[D]	W
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region.

Songwriting credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.^[40]

List of songs, showing year released, artist name, and name of the album

Title	Year	Artist	Album	Notes
"With*One"	2020	Iz*One	Oneiric Diary	As lyricist

Videography

Music videos

Title	Year	Director(s)	Ref.
"First Love Letter"	2021	Un­known	[41]
"Winter Poem"			[42]

Filmography

For Kang's filmography with Iz*One, see Iz*One filmography.

Television series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2024	The Player 2: Master of Swindlers	Miyoo	Cameo, Episode 2	[43]

Web series

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2022	Best Mistake 3 (일진에게 찍혔을 때 시즌3)	Jin Se-hee	[44]
	Seasons of Blossom (청춘 블라썸)	Yoon Bo-mi	[45]
2023	Boyhood	Kang Seon-hwa	[46]
2025	Friendly Rivalry	Joo Ye-ri	[47]

Television shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2018	Produce 48	Contestant	Finished 8th	[2]
2021	We Became A Family (우리 식구됐어요)	Cast member		[7]

Web show

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2021–2022	Adola Travel Agency: Cheat-ing Trip	Host	Season 1–2	[48][49]

Music video appearances

Year	Title	Artist	Ref.
2021	"Hobby"	Parc Jae-jung	[6]
2022	"Winner"	Ravi	[50]
2025	"1,2,3,4,5"	Coogie	[51]

Bibliography

Year	Title	Publisher	Type	Ref.
2021	Kang Hye Won 1st Edition Photo Book: Beauty Cut	8D Entertainment, Danal Entertainment	Solo photobook	[52]
	Collection of Essay (수필집)	8D Entertainment	Season Greetings	[53]
2022	Limited Edition Art Book: Like a Diamond by Kang Hye Won		Art book	[citation needed]
	Fleur	8D Entertainment, Wonderwall	Photobook	[54]
2023	Hyems Candy Warm and Fuzy	8D Entertainment	Photobook	[citation needed]

Accolades

For Kang's accolades with Iz*One, see List of awards and nominations received by Iz*One.

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
APAN Star Awards	2024	Best New Actress	Boyhood	Nominated	[55]
Brand Customer Loyalty Award	2024	Female Actress – Rookie	Kang Hye-won	Won	[56]
Korea Drama Awards		Best New Actress	Boyhood	Won	[57]

Notes

1. As a member of Iz*One only.

1. "First Love Letter" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 188 on component Download Chart.^[38]
2. "Winter Poem" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 66 on component Download Chart.^[38]
3. "Like A Diamond" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 150 on component Download Chart.^[39]
4. "Snowy Day" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 182 on component Download Chart.^[38]