Kangta

Biography

An Chil-hyun (Korean: 안칠현; born October 10, 1979), known professionally as Kangta (강타), is a South Korean singer, composer, songwriter, record producer, actor and radio personality. Known for his work as a member of boy band H.O.T., he is currently an executive at his longtime agency SM Entertainment since 2005. He is also the chief producer of Smashhit from SM's label Kreation Music Rights since 2023 and the general producer of SM's music label SMArt since 2025.

1996–2001: H.O.T.

Kangta was discovered at Lotte World, a theme park, when he was 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 when the group's contract expired and the members decided not to renew it.

2001–2002: Solo debut, Polaris and Pine Tree

Kangta released his first studio album Polaris×Polaris16 August 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1오! 그대를3:332별의 고백2:093북극성4:034Thanks God4:535스물 셋3:236겨울 (Last Winter) (나의 이야기 하나)1:227In Your Eyes4:148당신이 알고 있던 난... (Still...)4:199Doobidub4:1010나..세상..나 (I Will) (나의 이야기 두울)1:3711그해 여름4:4312Blue Moon4:4613하얀 얼굴로3:3314오늘같이 이런 창밖이 좋아 (Rainy Day)4:5115북극성 (instrumental)4:00 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, and was a great success with sales close to 500,000 copies. In December of the same year, SM Entertainment's singers began to enter China in earnest, starting with performances in Beijing and Shanghai, China.
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.
On August 1 of the same year, he released his second studio album Pine Tree×Pine Tree26 August 2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1햇살 (Spring)0:392Happy Happy2:583사랑은 기억보다 (Memories)5:014Propose4:245바다 (Summer)0:486고백 (Confession)4:317The Best2:528노을 (Autumn)0:339추억은 기억보다 (Memories #2)4:3810Flower4:43112032 In CUBA3:5412눈 (Winter)0:4313야상곡 (Nocturne)4:0414이별 후에는 (One Snowing Day)4:3315상록수 (Pine Tree)4:38 for the first time in more than a year, and as with his first album, he recorded more than 70% of his own songs. 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.

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.

2005 : the third studio album Persona

Kangta released his third album, Persona×Persona4 March 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1가면3:472쓰레기4:313느리게 걷기5:044마비3:175하루만큼만3:546No More Than My Dream (꿈일 뿐이죠...)3:397일어나기 (Reminiscence＃1)4:128Blue Snow4:119그녀의 목소리가 들립니다 (Always)4:2610잠든 기도5:4611느리게 걷기 (instrumental)5:0412그녀의 목소리가 들립니다 (instrumental)4:26, 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. The title song "Persona" was a big hit in China.
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.

2007

Kangta also acted in his second Chinese drama, 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.
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.
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.

2010: Chinese EP Breaka Shaka

After two years and five months of hiatus from the entertainment industry due to Korean military service, Kangta released Chinese EP Breaka Shaka, which 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 Zhou Mi'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.
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. On October 11, S.M. Entertainment confirmed that Kangta currently preparing his new album. 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. 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 2017, He released his digital single "Doll" with Wendy and Seulgi of Red Velvet.

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.
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. Kangta released the remake single "Free To Fly 2021" on July 14. The second single for the project "Christmas in July" was released on July 28. The third single "Maybe" was released on October 12. The fourth single "Slow Dance" was released on January 12, 2022.
On August 17, 2022, it was announced that Kangta would be making a comeback on September 7 with his fourth studio album Eyes on You×Eyes on You7 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Eyes on You (야경)3:132Skip2:543Love Song3:234버킷리스트 (Bucket List)3:445한 사람 (The One)2:526가면 2022 (Persona 2022)2:507Freezing3:1787월의 크리스마스 (Christmas in July)3:599아마 (Maybe)2:4610Slow Dance3:03, marking his first almost two decades (since 2005). 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.
On April 22, 2023, SM STATION released its digital single, "When I Close My Eyes". The song was sung with Lee A-reum, a vocalist of Hanbitarts, in commemoration of Day of the Disabled.

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. And in 2024, he expanded his field by working on songs with a number of singers, discovering various producers.

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 Yu-mi.

S (Supreme)

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 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.

Kangta & Vanness

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.

Production credits

Polaris (2001)
Pine Tree (2002)
Fr. In. Cl. by S (2003)
Persona (2005)
Scandal by Kangta & Vanness (2006)
Eternity (2008)
Arrow soundtrack (2011)
That Winter, the Wind Blows soundtrack (2013)
Rewind by Zhoumi (2014)
Autumn Breeze by S (2014)
Cause You by Yeong-jun & Lee Ye-joon (2022)
Shiny day by Tony Ahn (2023)

Tours and concerts

KANGTA 1st Concert: Pinetree (2002)
KANGTA Beijing Concert (2005)
KANGTA & VANNESS SCANDAL in Beijing (2006)
KANGTA 1st JAPAN CONCERT 2007 (2007)
2008 KANGTA LIVE CONCERT "Eternity×Eternity12 March 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1어느날 가슴이 말했다 (Eternity)2너를 닮아 (Still With You)3책갈피 (Reminiscence)4그래서 미안합니다 (Since You've Gone)579896가슴에 남아 (Still My Heart)7어느 날 가슴이 말했다 (Eternity) (inst.)8책갈피 (Reminiscence) (inst.)" (2008)
KANGTA Asia Tour 2010 IN Beijing (2010)
The Agit: Coming Home (2016)