Kang Hye-won (Korean: ๊ฐํ์; born July 5, 1999), known mononymously as Hyewon, is a South Korean actress and singer. She is a former member of the South KoreanโJapanese girl group Iz*One, formed by CJ E&M through Mnet's 2018 reality competition television show Produce 48.
Kang was announced to be a part of Produce 48 in 2018.[3] She finished in 8th place with 248,432 votes securing her place in Iz*One.[4] 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.[5]
2021โ2022: 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.[6] On July 27, she made an appearance in Parc Jae-jung's "Hobby" music video.[7] In August, Kang was confirmed as a cast member of MBC's variety show How A Family is Made.[8]
On December 8, a teaser video was revealed on her YouTube channel, announcing the upcoming release of a winter special album, W.[9] On December 22, she released the album with "Winter Poem" as the lead single.[10]
On June 9, 2022, Kang released the single "Like A Diamond", featuring Stella Jang.[11]
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.[12]
2023โpresent: Rising popularity
In August 2023, it was revealed that Kang starred in a Coupang Play series Boyhood which aired on November 24, 2023.[13]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.[14] 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.[15]
Endorsements
On November 12, 2021, Kang landed her first CF deal with the camera app SODA, it was revealed through a video advertisement uploaded on SODA's official YouTube Channel. Kang starred as international face phishing criminal who pretended to be a detective and used the SODA app to altered her image.[16] On December 24, through atstar1 magazine, the global sports brand New Balance announced Kang as their pictorial model for their new Backpack with the theme "MBTI Concept New Semester Backpack".[17]
On January 13, 2022, through her own YouTube channel, Kang announced collaboration with a skincare line, Uriid, where Kang is in charge of the promotional design to promote their new product, Uriid Neroli Garden Ampoule Stick.[18] According to Uriid, after the promotional video with Kang was released on her YouTube channel, the product is selling high on social media and online store, particularly in Hyundai Home Shopping.[19] On March 30, Kang collaborated with Onitsuka Tiger Korea to promote their shoes collection by releasing fashion pictorial through Elle Korea.[20] On May 30, Kang was chosen by the British premium bag brand, Radley London, to promote their new 2022 Spring/Summer Collection, Forest Way-Smoking (medium zip-top multi-way bag espresso), and Duke Place (medium open-top multi-way bag dark blue) bags by releasing pictorial through atstar1 magazine with the theme 'Fun-Loving London.'[21] 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'.[22] Kang continued working with General Idea as their muse for their '22FW Woman Part.2 Collection' by dropping new pictorials on September 13.[23] On June 27, Nexon announced Kang as their advertising model for their online game Mabinogi.[24] On July 18, Kang announced collaboration with LEGO to promote their three-dimensional reproduction of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night by releasing pictorial with the piece through Elle Korea.[25] On October 6, ma:nyo, a Korean cosmetic brand, announced Kang Hyewon as their new Ambassador for their lipstick collection, NO MERCY Spell Mood Stick, and for their skincare collection, V.collagen Heart Fit.[26]
On January 9, 2023, ROEM, a Korean clothing company, announced Kang as their 2023 Spring/Summer season campaign model by releasing pictorial for their "Wonder the New Romantic" of the "2023 Pre-Spring Collection" with Kang.[27] Kang continued working for Roem throughout half of 2023. On February 6, Roem released a new tweed collection with Kang called "A Tweed Wonder". On March 27 Roem announced another collaboration with Kang for their Spring/Summer collection, "My Own Romantic Finds".[28] On July 10, 2023, Roem released a new collaboration with Kang, "Fill Yourself", for their Fall collection. Their collaboration with Kang created a new slogan for Roem, "Romantic Is Everywhere". It is reported that after choosing Kang as their muse, who represents Gen Z, Roem sales increased by 30%.[29] On March 2, 2023, Nexon announced Kang as their special character for their game Sudden Attack.[30]
On February 8, 2024, through Vogue Korea the Korean sport fashion brand, MLB, announced Kang as their pictorial model for their Varsity spring collection with the theme "Work Out Balance".[31][32] On April 12, 2024, Vaseline Korea announced on their Instagram that Kang has become the model for their Lip Therapy product.[33] On April 30, Unilever Korea announced Kang as the official 24th brand ambassador of Vaseline Korea for their Lip Therapy campaign.[34] On May 22, 2024 through Elle Korea, Kang was announced as Narciso Rodriguez Korea's pictorial model for their summer perfume collection.[35]
W: "2022๋ 02์ฃผ์ฐจ Album Chart" [Week 2 of 2022 Album Chart] (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. January 2โ8, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Gaon Chart.
^2022๋ 01์ Album Chart [January 2022 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved February 10, 2022.
^ abc"2021๋ 52 Download Chart" [Week 52 of 2021 Download Chart] (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. December 19โ25, 2021. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021 – via Gaon Chart.
^"2022๋ 24 Download Chart" [Week 24 of 2022 Download Chart] (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. June 5โ11, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022 – via Gaon Chart.
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