# Young K

Kang Young-hyun (Korean: 강영현; born December 19, 1993), known professionally as Young K, is a South Korean musician, singer, songwriter, and rapper. He is best known as the bassist and vocalist of South Korean pop rock band Day6.

## Early life

Kang Younghyun was born on December 19, 1993, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea as an only child. He was raised in Ilsan, South Korea and moved to Toronto, Canada, to attend middle and high school at York Mills Collegiate Institute. Since sixth grade, he has not lived with his parents. During this time, he went by his English name, Brian Kang. Kang moved to Korea in 2010 and became a trainee at JYP Entertainment (JYP). After he signed a contract with JYP, his father retired and moved to Toronto with his mother. On October 5, 2017, he received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Dongguk University while working on his band career. He graduated from University on August 23, 2018.

## Career
### 2010–2015: Pre-debut

While attending middle and high school in Canada, Kang began his musical journey and career by forming two bands with his best friends Terry He and Don Lee. Their first band was called 3rd Degree. Their second band, Kiss Me Ever So Softly (KMESS), included two other close friends: Sean Yerzy and Sonny Tsai. The group posted several viral music videos and vlogs on He's YouTube channel and performed at various local competitions and shows (including several shows organized by A1 Radio, a subsidiary of Sing Tao News Corporation), which helped them garner a fanbase and attention from record labels and managers.
In the summer of 2010, after noticing Kang from his entry to JYP's Global Audition program and YouTube work, JYP Entertainment staff met with Kang and his bandmates in Toronto for an audition. This resulted in Kang and Lee signing with JYP as trainees and moving to South Korea full-time to begin their idol training that same year. Lee later left JYP to pursue a career in dentistry. Kang went on to appear in the fourth episode of WIN: Who is Next? as a part of JYP's rapping team with Got7's Mark Tuan and Jackson Wang against the combined rapping teams of Team A and Team B, where he became known for the verse, "YG, get an attitude!" He was also a part of JYP's vocalist team alongside his eventual Day6 bandmates Junhyeok, Jae, Sungjin and Wonpil.
In 2014, Kang was selected as a member of five-member rock band 5Live under JYP, but their debut was cancelled. The band was reformed as Day6 after the addition of drummer Dowoon in 2015. Kang was also originally selected as a member of the group Got7, but was ultimately cut from the lineup.

### 2015–present: Day6, Solo activities, Even of Day and solo debut

On September 7, 2015, he made his debut as a member of Day6 and released their debut EP, The Day, with the lead single "Congratulations".
Kang has been credited with much of the songwriting in Day6's discography.
In September 2015, he was featured in fellow JYP artist, the solo artist Baek A-yeon song titled "Shouldn't Have" where he did and wrote the rap part. The song went on to become a sleeper hit, reaching number one on several Korean music real-time charts a month after its release among fierce competition. He was also featured in a song of Korean indie musicians Park Sae-byul & Like Likes, in the song titled "Sky High": Kang did the rap part. He has also been featured as rapper in JYP label mate Park Ji-min's single "Young해".
On March 14, 2018, he made his debut as a member of Day6 in Japan with first Japanese single "If ～また逢えたら～". The single also serves as theme song for the Japanese drama Repeat.
In 2019, he composed and contributed lyrics to a track for the solo debut of B.A.P's Youngjae entitled "Hope".
Together with Got7's Youngjae he became the new DJ of MBC Radio Idol Radio starting from May 18, 2020. The first season of the show ended on September 25.
On August 31, 2020, Kang, Dowoon and Wonpil debuted as Even of Day, a sub-unit of Day6 and released their debut EP The Book of Us: Gluon, with the lead single "Where the Sea Sleeps" (파도가 끝나는 곳까지).
On September 19, 2020, Young K collaborated with American pop duo X Lovers with a remix version of "Love".
On October 16 and 23, 2020, Kang and Wonpil made a surprise appearance as a cameo in the web drama Let Me Off the Earth.
On November 23, 2020, Kang became the new DJ for KBS CoolFM's Kiss The Radio, in which he was invited to reprise the role after his military discharge in April 2023. He eventually reprised the DJ role for Kiss The Radio on June 19, 2023.
On January 14, 2021, Kang featured as rapper in Thai singer Apiwat Ueathavornsuk (Stamp)'s single "Sugar High".
On May 28, 2021, Kang featured in Ben&Ben remake song "Leaves" and this also comes as Kang's first collaboration with a Filipino act.
On September 6, 2021, Kang made his solo debut with the extended play Eternal, which consists of seven songs including the title track "Guard You", "Come as you are(그대로 와 줘요)" and "Microphone".
On June 23, 2023, Kang released the single "Better Day", in which he wrote the lyrics. The song is the winning song of the music contest Songs That Care hosted by JYP Entertainment. Kang also performed the song live at 2023 JYP EDM Day - the video is published by JYP Entertainment on YouTube.
On August 25, 2023, Kang released the single "Let it be Summer", which would be featured in his upcoming first studio album Letters with Notes. The album was released on September 4, together with its title track "Nothing But".
On December 23, 2023, Young K won the Radio DJ of the Year award at the 2023 KBS Entertainment Awards for hosting the radio show Kiss The Radio.
On January 2, 2024, Young K won the Ballad Award under the Genre-based awards at the 33rd Seoul Music Awards held at Bangkok, Thailand. Notably, he was ranked first among the award nominees with a total mobile vote of 52.78%. He also performed the songs "Nothing But (이것밖에는 없다)" and "Time of Our Life (한 페이지가 될 수 있게)" live at the award ceremony.
On April 10, 2024, Young K clinched the "Best Rock Ballad Award" at Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024 held at the K Arena in Yokohama, Japan, which was a testament to his growth as an all-rounder artist and his soulful delivery of the rock ballad "Nothing But" from the first full album (Letters with Notes) that he released in 2023.

## Personal life

On August 16, 2021, Young K announced that he will enlist as part of his mandatory military service on October 12, 2021, where he will be serving in KATUSA. During his military service, Young K won the "2022 Eighth Army Best Warrior Competition" in KATUSA category, held from May 8 to May 13, 2022. He also appeared in the eighth episode of tvN variety program, The Backpacker Chef, which aired on July 14, 2022. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal along with additional gifts from local military support groups and many other rewards. On November 20, the Eighth Army (United States) released the current situation of Young K, who had just been promoted to Sgt (U.S. Army Sergeant, a rank equivalent to Sergeant in the Republic of Korea Army), through its official SNS, an official on November 20. He was discharged on April 11, 2023.

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and sales :
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Details | KOR | Sales |
| Letters with Notes | Released: September 4, 2023 Label: JYP Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 5 | KOR: 54,957 |

### Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and sales :
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Details | KOR | Sales |
| Eternal | Released: September 6, 2021 Label: JYP Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 8 | KOR: 56,379 |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

List of lead singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR DL | Album |
| "Guard You" (끝까지 안아 줄게) | 2021 | 29 | Eternal |
| "Come as You Are" (그대로 와 줘요) | 2021 | 84 | Eternal |
| "Better Day" | 2023 | — | Non-album single |
| "Let It Be Summer" | 2023 | 74 | Letters with Notes |
| "Nothing But" (이것밖에는 없다) | 2023 | 31 | Letters with Notes |
| "—" denotes that the song did not chart in the region. ||||

#### As featured artist

List of featured singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, sales, and name of the album :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales (DL) | Album |
| "Shouldn't Have" (이럴거면 그러지말지) (Baek A-yeon featuring Young K) | 2015 | 1 | KOR: 2,500,000+ | Non-album singles |
| "Sky High" (Park Sae-byul & Like, Likes featuring Young K) | 2015 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "20" (Young해) (Park Ji-min featuring Young K) | 2016 | 157 | KOR: 13,829 | 19 to 20 |
| "Love" (X Lovers featuring Young K) | 2020 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Sugar High" (ใจอ้วน) (STAMP featuring Young K) | 2021 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "What a Wonderful Word" (Park Monn-chi featuring Young K) | 2021 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Leaves" (Ben&Ben featuring Young K) | 2021 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Maybe Next Time" (Jamie Miller featuring Young K) | 2023 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Slow" (Big Ocean featuring Young K) | 2024 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "—" denotes that the song did not chart in the region. |||||

### Promotional singles

List of promotional singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR DL | Album |
| "Am I in Love?" (아마도 사랑인가 봐) | 2023 | 114 | Move Up K-Billboard Pt.2 |
| "7-Eleven with You" | 2023 | — | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes that the song did not chart in the region. ||||

### Soundtrack appearances

List of soundtrack appearances, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR DL | Album |
| "Insomnia" (불면증) | 2020 | — | Let Me Off the Earth OST |
| "Insomnia" (Future Bass Remix) | 2020 | — | Let Me Off the Earth OST |
| "With You" (웹툰) | 2023 | 170 | No Office Romance! OST |
| "Butterfly" (나비) | 2023 | 91 | Castaway Diva OST |
| "—" denotes that the song did not chart in the region. ||||

### Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR DL | Album |
| "Best Song" (베스트 송) | 2021 | 95 | Eternal |
| "Not Gonna Love" (사랑은 얼어 죽을) | 2021 | 110 | Eternal |
| "Microphone" | 2021 | 94 | Eternal |
| "Want to Love You" | 2021 | 113 | Eternal |
| "Goodnight, Dear" (잘 자라 내 사람아) | 2021 | 111 | Eternal |
| "Waited" (오늘만을 너만을 이날을) | 2023 | 62 | Letters with Notes |
| "Dreamer" (꿈꾼) | 2023 | 69 | Letters with Notes |
| "Bungee Jumping" | 2023 | 72 | Letters with Notes |
| "Natural" | 2023 | 67 | Letters with Notes |
| "Strange" | 2023 | 76 | Letters with Notes |
| "Soul" | 2023 | 75 | Letters with Notes |
| "Playground" | 2023 | 78 | Letters with Notes |
| "Babo" | 2023 | 79 | Letters with Notes |
| "What is..." | 2023 | 68 | Letters with Notes |

### Songwriting credits

The lists of songwriting credits below is the lists that Young K was credited for other artists, besides Day6 and his solo.
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless otherwise stated.
Lists of songwriting credits for other artists :
| Year | Song title | Artist | Album title | Lyrics | Lyrics | Composing | Composing | Ref. |
| Year | Song title | Artist | Album title | Credited | With | Credited | With | Ref. |
| Before debut |||||||||
| 2015 | "Shouldn't Have" (이럴거면 그러지말지) | Baek A-yeon feat. Young K | Non-album single | Yes | Shim Eun-ji, Baek A-yeon | No | | |
| After debut |||||||||
| 2016 | "Stuck On You" (빠져가지고) | Up10tion | Burst | Yes | Wonpil, Sungjin (Day6), Daniel Kim | Yes | Wonpil, Sungjin (Day6), Daniel Kim | |
| 2016 | "Young해" | Jamie feat. Young K | 19 to 20 | Yes | | No | | |
| 2016 | "Answer" | Jamie | 19 to 20 | Yes | Nathan | No | | |
| 2016 | "Beggin On My Knees" | Got7 | Flight Log: Departure | Yes | | No | | |
| 2017 | "In Your Eyes" | Crude Play | The Liar and His Lover OST | Yes | Frants | No | | |
| 2018 | "Sleep Mode" | Nakjoon | Still... | Yes | | No | | |
| 2019 | "Hope" | Young-jae | Fancy | Yes | Isaac Han | Yes | | |
| 2019 | "Love Me Tonight" | 휴이 (ḦU) | RE:verse | No | | Yes | | |
| 2019 | "I Want You More" (원해) | 휴이 (ḦU) | RE:verse | No | | Yes | | |
| 2020 | "Don't Know" | Jeong Se-woon | 24 Part.1 | Yes | Jeong Se-woon | No | | |
| 2020 | "Trouble with You" | Eric Nam | The Other Side | Yes | Eric Nam | No | | |
| 2020 | "Paradise" | Eric Nam | The Other Side | Yes | Eric Nam | No | | |
| 2020 | "How You Been" | Eric Nam | The Other Side | Yes | Eric Nam | No | | |
| 2020 | "Love Die Young (Korean Ver.)" | Eric Nam | The Other Side | Yes | | No | | |
| 2021 | "Sugar High" (Thai: ใจอ้วน) | STAMP feat. Young K | Non-album single | Yes | STAMP | No | | |
| 2021 | "Late Night Movie" (심야영화) | Ha Hyun-sang | Non-album single | Yes | Ha Hyun-sang | No | | |
| 2021 | "What a Wonderful Word" | Park Moon-chi, Young K | What a Wonderful Word | Yes | Park Moon-chi, DVWN | Yes | Park Moon-chi, DVWN | |
| 2021 | "Diving to the top" (낙하산은 펴지 않을게요) | The Wild Idol [ko] | — | Yes | Wonpil, Shim Eun-ji | No | | |
| 2022 | "Voiceless" (안녕, 잘 가) | Wonpil | Pilmography | Yes | Wonpil | No | | |
| 2022 | "Sincerity" (지우게) | Wonpil | Pilmography | Yes | Wonpil | No | | |
| 2022 | "Stranded" (외딴섬의 외톨이) | Wonpil | Pilmography | Yes | Wonpil | No | | |
| 2022 | "Unpainted Canvas" (그리다 보면) | Wonpil | Pilmography | Yes | Wonpil | No | | |
| 2022 | "Rose Blossom" (건물 사이에 피어난 장미) | H1-Key | Rose Blossom | Yes | | No | | |
| 2023 | "Good Enough" | Xdinary Heroes | Deadlock | Yes | Gunil | No | | |
| 2023 | "Puzzlin'" | Riina (H1-Key), Miru Shiroma, Suyun (Rocket Punch), Soojin (Weeekly), Wooyeon (Woo!ah!), Jiwon (Cherry Bullet), Kei | Queendom Puzzle Semi Final | Yes | | Yes | GARDEN, HotSauce | |
| 2023 | "Lemon Black Tea" | Jo Yu-ri | Love All | Yes | | No | | |
| 2023 | "Seoul (Such a Beautiful City)" | H1-Key | Seoul Dreaming | Yes | | No | | |
| 2024 | "Run for Roses" | Nmixx | Fe3O4: Break | Yes | Lee Seu-ran, Frankie Day (The Hub) | No | | |
| 2024 | "Wheee" (휘이) | Whee In | Non-album single | Yes | | Yes | Nah Sang-hyun | |
| 2024 | "Deeper" (기뻐) | H1-Key | Non-album single | Yes | Hong Ji-sang | No | | |
| 2024 | "Hello" | Zerobaseone | You Had Me at Hello | Yes | Bang Hye-hyun | No | | |
| 2024 | "Fire!" | Lee Na-yeong, Lee Soo-young, Yang Ie-rae, Jung Yu-ri, Khan Amina | <Girls on Fire> Episode.3 | Yes | | Yes | paulkyte | |
| 2024 | "Falling" | Woodz feat. Young K | Non-album single | Yes | Woodz | Yes | Woodz, Nathan, Hoho | |
| 2024 | "Longing For The One I Lost" (이미 지나간 너에게 하는 말) | HYNN | Non-album single | Yes | | No | | |
| 2025 | "Warriors" | Kickflip | Flip It, Kick It! | Yes | | No | | |
| 2025 | "Hee World" | Seo Hee | Undercover TOP 5 | Yes | Klozer, Seo Hee | Yes | Jung Yeong-a, Klozer | |

## Filmography
### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2011 | Dream High | Jason backup dancer | Extra, episode 3 | |
| 2012 | Dream High 2 | I:dn backup dancer | Extra, episode 1 | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2016 | Touching You | Customer | Cameo (episode 11) | |
| 2020 | Let Me Off The Earth | Intern teacher | Cameo (episode 6–7) with Wonpil | |

### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2019 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant | as "Narwhal" |
| 2022 | The Backpacker Chef | Special appearance | Episode 8 (while serving in the military) |
| 2023 | Super Karaoke Survival: VS | Producer | with Kim Min-seok |
| 2023 | Hangout with Yoo | Main vocal of One Top | Episode 207–211 |
| 2024 | Girls on Fire | Judge / Producer | |

### Web shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2024 | K Survival Story (K생존기) | Host | | |

### Radio shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2020 | Idol Radio | DJ | with Got7's Youngjae from May 18 – September 25 | |
| 2020–2021 2023–2024 | Kiss the Radio | DJ | From November 23, 2020 – October 10, 2021; June 19, 2023 – June 30, 2024. | |