Kang Ha-neul

Kang Ha-neul (February 21, 1990), born Kim Ha-neul, is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in television dramas The Heirs (2013), Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), When the Camellia Blooms (2019), Insider (2022) and Curtain Call (2022). Known as a prolific Chungmu-ro actor, he has also starred in the movies Mourning Grave (2014), Twenty (2015), Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016), New Trial (2017), Midnight Runners (2017), Forgotten (2017), Waiting for Rain (2021), The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure (2022), and Love Reset (2023).
In 2020, Kang received the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actor – Television and ranked 23rd in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity annual list. He is also the recipient of South Korea Prime Minister Commendation in 2020. Kang ranked 2nd in Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year 2019. In 2021, Kang was selected by the Korean Film Council as one of the 200 Korean actors that best represent the present and future of Korea's movie scene. In 2023, Kang was named among The 50 people who made KBS shine.
Kang has always been considered as one of the kindest actors in the Korean entertainment industry.
Career
Kang began his career in musical theatre, notably in Thrill Me (2010), Prince Puzzle (2011), Black Mary Poppins (2012), and Assassins (2012). He later shifted to the screen, starring in the television dramas To the Beautiful You (2012), The Heirs (2013) and Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014).<ref name
In 2015 Kang appeared in three films; musical film C'est si bon, period film Empire of Lust, and coming-of-age film Twenty, for which he managed to clinch several Best New Actor awards and nominations. In that same year, Kang embarked on a journey to broaden his acting spectrum with his debut in the play "Harold and Maude." Fueled by a strong desire to showcase his talent on stage, Kang felt deeply honored to have the opportunity to make his debut alongside the esteemed senior actress Park Jeong-ja.
In 2016, Kang starred in the black and white biographical period film Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, where he played the titular role of poet Yun Dong-ju. His role as Yun Dong-ju earned him Best Actor nominations at the 25th Buil Film Awards and 4th Wildflower Film Awards. He also appeared in the romantic comedy film Like for Likes, playing a young songwriter who suffers a hearing disability. The same year, he co-starred in the historical drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, playing the role of 8th Prince Wang Wook, which earned him an Excellence Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
In 2017, Kang starred in the film New Trial, acting as a young man who spent a decade in prison after an abusive investigation for a crime he did not commit. He then starred alongside Park Seo-joon in the action comedy film Midnight Runners, playing a nerdy student of the Korean National Police University. The film was a success, becoming the 4th highest-grossing South Korean film in 2017. In the same year, he also appeared in mystery thriller film Forgotten alongside Kim Mu-yeol.
In September 2018, Kang co-starred with fellow actor Ji Chang-wook and K-Pop idol Kim Sung-kyu from Infinite in military musical Shinheung Military Academy. The musical is regarded as one of the largest productions of the Republic of Korea Army, with cumulative audiences recorded totaling to 110,000 viewers. Kang's performance as Paldo has earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 7th Yegreen Musical Awards.
In 2019, Kang made a comeback in the entertainment industry in the KBS2 TV series When the Camellia Blooms alongside Gong Hyo-jin. The drama achieved impressive ratings, and was the highest-rated miniseries in 2019. It also led to numerous accolades and critical acclaim for Kang, including the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actor – Television.
In November 2019, Kang's contract with SEM Company, his agency since 2010 expired and he joined his former manager in the newly established entertainment agency, TH Company. In January 2020, Kang returned to theater in Fantasy Tale, which marked his comeback performance after Harold and Maude in 2015.
In 2021, Kang made his comeback to the silver screen with Waiting for Rain, playing the role of Young Ho, a man who lives his life aimlessly while exchanging letters with his lover. The same year he was confirmed to star in the mystery thriller film Streaming in which Kang's character runs a popular YouTube channel based on criminal profiling. The story follows him live streaming as he solves a murder case.
In 2022, Kang starred in the period adventure film The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, a sequel to the blockbuster hit The Pirates. Later the same year, he starred in the JTBC series Insider, playing a judicial trainee who goes undercover in prison to catch a gang leader. Later in the year, he also starred in the drama Curtain Call that earned him the Top Excellence Actor Award at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards.
On June 24, 2023, it was reported that Kang will join season 2 of Squid Game.
Kang is also confirmed to lead the movie Opposition scheduled to be released in 2024.
Personal life
Kang began his mandatory military service on September 11, 2017, at Nonsan Korean Army Training Center. The completion ceremony took place on October 24 wherein Kang was recognized for his exemplary performance during basic training. On February 22, 2019, Kang was appointed as honorary ambassador of the Military Manpower Administration (MMA). The ceremony took place at the Air Force Hall in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. As an honorary ambassador, Kang participated in events organized by the MMA until December 2019. Kang was discharged on May 23, 2019.
Filmography
Film
Television series
Web series
Television show
Web show
Music video appearances
Stage
Musical
Theater
Discography
Awards and nominations
State honors
Listicles
Notes
References
External links
21st-century South Korean male actors
South Korean male musical theatre actors
South Korean male stage actors
South Korean male television actors
South Korean male film actors
Chung-Ang University alumni
Living people
1990 births
Male actors from Busan