Before the Spotlight: The Journey of Song Kang
Long before he earned global recognition as the “Son of Netflix” and captured hearts in smash-hit K-dramas like Sweet Home, Nevertheless, and My Demon, Song Kang was simply a young man figuring out his path.
1. Ordinary Roots and an Artistic Household
Born on April 23, 1994, in Suwon, South Korea, Song Kang grew up away from the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. However, creativity was not entirely foreign to his home: his father was an artistic gymnast, and his mother was a piano teacher.
As a student attending Songpa Middle School and later Changhyun High School, Song Kang didn’t immediately set his sights on acting. In fact, like many teenagers, he spent his youth exploring different hobbies—ranging from playing the piano and reading to picking up sports like kendo. He eventually went on to major in Film Arts at Konkuk University, laying the academic groundwork for what would become his life’s passion.
2. Passing Up the Idol Track
Before officially signing with his agency, Namoo Actors, in late 2016, Song Kang’s striking visuals caught the attention of talent scouts. He was approached multiple times by various K-pop and idol entertainment agencies.
To many fans, transitioning into a trainee to become a pop star might seem like an obvious choice, but Song Kang turned them down. He felt he lacked the natural singing and dancing skills required for an idol, but more importantly, his heart was set entirely on a different craft: acting. He wanted to study characters, tell stories on screen, and build an authentic career as a dramatic actor.
3. Small Beginnings and Variety Stepping Stones
Song Kang officially made his small-screen debut in 2017 with a minor supporting role as a sweet, unrequited-love-struck bandmate in the tvN romantic comedy The Liar and His Lover. He followed this up with a role in the weekend family drama Man in the Kitchen.
Realizing that building a career takes time, he also stepped into the variety and hosting spotlight to let audiences get to know his genuine personality. Between 2018 and 2019, he:
- Co-hosted the popular music show Inkigayo alongside SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu and DIA’s Chaeyeon.
- Joined the fixed cast of the mystery variety show Village Survival, the Eight.
- Made cameo appearances and starred in indie/low-budget films like Beautiful Vampire (2018).
4. The Audition That Changed Everything
The true turning point of Song Kang’s career happened when he beat out 900 other applicants to land his breakout lead role as Hwang Sun-oh in Netflix’s adaptation of the webtoon Love Alarm (2019).
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